"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." --Isaac Newton
This week's essential questions and my recent ponderings related to classroom research have illustrated the importance of beginning with reflection. After watching the initial Hangout for this course, my mind immediately began searching for "The Question." Oh, no...the pressure: What should my research question be? On what query should I begin to gather data? In this massive pool of possibilities, where should I direct my dive? Perhaps these are normal human response, as we're so conditioned to RUN as soon as we hear the blast of the starting gun. Instead, I was reminded by this particular image that beginning where so many processes in education end will be of greatest value and will result in research that actually matters. |
| I had a few desktop computers in my classroom, a website to share assignments and resources, a cart of AlphaSmarts that could be checked out from the library (and then added a couple hours to my day while I linked and loaded the students' work to my computer), a super-cool digital camera, and a computer lab just across the hall. We were livin' the life! |
It's Week 3, and I'm still reflecting. Perhaps a few hours with some second graders in the coming week will help me funnel my reflections enough that a cohesive question drips from the narrow end. What do they wish their teachers knew about technology? Perhaps starting at the beginning will lead to a more meaningful end.
References:
Center for Enhanced Teaching and Learning. The Action Research Cycles (image). Retrieved from on
19 Sept 2014 from http://celt.ust.hk/teaching-resources/action-research
Google search: Action Research. Retrieved on 19 Sept 2014 from https://www.google.com/search?q=action+research&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vhUfVKq0E8HViwK_k4A4&ved=0CEEQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=955#facrc=0%3Bteacher%20action%20research&imgdii=_&imgrc=_
LJT Studios. (2014, Jan. 29) The White House Student Film Festival: Technology in Classrooms. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lSscbqRZVM
Shagoury, R., & Power, B. M. (2012). Living the questions: A guide for teacher-researchers. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.
Wikipedia. AlphaSmart. Retrieved on 19 Sept 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaSmart