EDUC 6030 – Fall 2002

Action Research in Educational Technology

3 Credit Hours – St. George

Dr. Deborah Hill              (office) 865-8628  (home) 865-7762

208A Old Main               hilld@suu.edu

Office Hours

          MWF: 1 – 4   and T/TH: 8 – 12

Course Description

          This graduate level course is designed to provide students with a conceptual framework and a working knowledge of action research methods within the context of technology education.  Students will explore the vocabulary and processes involved in conduction, interpreting and evaluating educational research as they identify a research project, gather information and prepare a preliminary proposal, collect and analyze data, conduct electronic literature searches and write a formal research report on a topic related to the effective use of technology in classroom instruction.

Target Standards

            National Board Of professional teaching standards

                Proposition #4: Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn                                                        from experience.

                Proposition #5: Teachers are members of learning communities.

Course Objectives

• Participants will strive to strengthen their teaching by critically examining the educational practice, seeking to expand their repertoire, deepen their knowledge, sharpen their judgment and adapt their teaching to new findings, ideas, and theories. (NBPTS Proposition #4, EDLEA area 1 - 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)
• Participants will evaluate the effectiveness of educational research, and it’s impact on current educational theory, practice, and reform. (NBPTS proposition # 5)

Course Content

·         Participants will examine foundational issues of action research - for example, determine how to approach a project and understanding what constitutes data and how to analyze.

·         Participants will become more skilled at interpreting and evaluating research.

·         Participants will develop and strengthen skills in writing and in selecting and synthesizing research literature.

Text

            Mills, G.E. (2003). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher. Upper Saddle, NJ:    Merill Prentice Hall.

            Publication Manual of American psychological Association (5th Ed.). 2002. Washington

             D. C.: American Psychological Association.

Assessment  Papers will be “handed in” via email or on disk*.  *only for those without access to Internet.

        Research Critiques: Select two related studies on a research topic of your choice which involves technology in schools. Prepare a 2-3-page paper that reports and analyzes these studies by comparing and contrasting them and by describing and evaluating the components. Select from research-based journal two different studies on similar topics. Analyze the studies. Compare and contrast them. What was the research question? Where did their literature review come from and in what perspective? What types of study (Qualitative/Quantitative)? What method used to gather data? How the data is reported (Narrative, graphs, etc.)? Why the different conclusions?  Research Matrix will be provided – you fill in the “cells”.   12% of total.                       Due: September 26

        Mini-Proposal: During the course of the semester, you will develop a mini-proposal.  These proposals will be developed on action research methodology.  Proposal will be brief (1 - 3 pages) and will provide an opportunity to sharpen skills involved in conceptualizing questions for research and methods to gather data.  20% of total                            Due: October 17

        A. Identify an area of focus.  Begin by developing a researchable question. A   researchable question is one on which data can be gathered in a valid and         practical way. Be sure your question is significant! Ask yourself, “So what?” Is there a conflict in the research?”

        B. Once you have developed a researchable question, translate it into a statement of     the problem.  For our purposes, a statement of the problem should be one sentence    long and begin with the statement, “The purpose of this study is…..”  The verb must         match the type of study!

        C. From your statement of the problem, develop research questions or hypotheses          that, if answered or tested, would yield information to answer the original question.

        D. Develop procedures, including sample, instrumentation, data collection         procedures, and analysis method that will yield data and results for the study.

            Synthesis of Research: A “shortened” lit review will address the current research for your topic/problem.   20% of total                                Due: November 7

        Action Research Project: An action research involving technology will be “completed” including the literature review, methodology, results and discussion.  Rubric provided.  48% of total                                          Due: December 13

Schedule

Thursdays

          August 22 – Logistics – What and How

          August 29 – 

          September 5 – Understanding Action Research – Chapter 1

          September 12 – Issues and Problems in Technology – Chapter 2   

          September 19 – Data Collection – Qualitative and Quantitative –                                                                     Chapter 3

          September 26 - Validity and Reliability- Chapter 4

          October 3 – Lies, More lies and then statistics – Chapter 5

          October 10 – APA style ?

          October 17 – Literature Reviews – short and sweet this time.

          October 24 – Action Plan – Chapter 6

          October 31 – Trick or Treat – No Class

          November 7 – Change Theories – Paved roads with potholes?

          November 14 – Working time and review of “sticky” points

          November 21 – Journal Write-ups – Chapter 8

          November 28 – Thanksgiving Holiday

          December 5 – Wrap up