NAEP Results 2011

What did I do?
Using the website for NAEP we were to find the results for two things.  How does WV rank according the rest of the United States and is there a significant difference between males and females in WV and their math scores.  The best way to do this is by conducting t-tests and finding the standard deviation and means for all scores.  We were to use the excel program to compare results.  Then plot them on a line plot.

What did I learn?
You can locate scores here NCES at the NCES website.  I learned that finding out how your state is doing is easier than you think.  You just need to know the correct site to look at and this is the place.  The site made it easy to input the numbers into your own excel spreadsheet so that the t-tests were easier to conduct.    I learned that WV is really low in scores as compared to the rest of the United States.  Such a bummer.  I know many teachers work over time in order to help their scores.  At some point, you wonder if we are missing something or maybe the parents need to be more involved.

How can I use it?
Data based analysis is a great tool for all teachers to use.  You can use it within your own classroom after a standardized test or with quarterly assessments to see who is lacking in certain areas and how to help them. YOu can also see that as a whole...WV is not necessarily low in Math scores but the entire United States as a whole is.

ISTE NETS T:

This is true because by looking at the results in a line plot we are reflecting and evaluating scores that uses resources effectively for teaching.  We are also doing it through the use of technology!

Sign Up for A Youtube Account

What did I do?
We were asked to sign up for a youtube account.  I used my account that I have had for over 8 years.  I picked a name that had to do with my mentality in college (college humor) so I would rather not post my youtube account name for fear it could offend someone.  You just go to youtube at Youtube, go to the top right and sign up for account.

What did I learn?
I learned that you should really think about your account name.  Because what was funny for a minute in college really isn't funny in the real world.  I wish I could go back and change it.  The problem, youtube knows you as other emails, especially if you use your google account.  It makes it much easier.  It also remembers your info from Facebook which makes it really hard to try and create/change your user name.  Oh well!

How can I use it?
I am not allowed to use Youtube in school.  Too bad, it really does have a lot of great informational and educational videos that could be used for school.  They are for sure better than the videos on teachertube.  You could use it to show videos, make educational videos, or have the kids get excited and make a video about a topic you are teaching.

ISTE NETS T Standard:
collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.


This standard works because Youtube could be a great tool to integrate parents and community into what is happening within your classroom.  With an emphasis on success and safety.

Appropriate a Youtube Video

What did I do?
We were to find an interesting Youtube video and then download it to our computer so that we can we post it in our blog.  I thought a video on "how to save a youtube to your computer" was appropriate!  Ha!  Here is the link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Hs6smGvRg

or

How to Save a Youtube Video to Your computer

The easy way for blogger is that we can just use the youtube link from blogger and post it directly to our webpage.

I used the software www.keepvid.com.  It was free and easy.  You just had to allow an applet so that it can do its job.

What did I learn?
I learned that finding my own software on how to save things is easier than just suggested ways.  Seeing that everyone has different computers, not all software will work as smoothly for others.  I liked figuring it out on my own as I do with most of my tech needs.  I am the techie one in my household and entire extended family.  So I am used to researching and trying to solve things on my own.

How can I use it?
Once again, I personally would not use this because I feel like we are breaking some form of piracy laws.  The owners make it private on youtube for a reason and it is weird to me that there are ways around that.  Youtube really needs to try harder to make things more private.  People will also have a chance of earning others money because you can become a partner of youtube and for every advertisement they put on your video you can earn money.  So if there is a popular video, someone will steal it, embed it, or download it onto their computer and earn money which shouldn't be theirs.

ISTE NETS Standard:
The standard this applies to is or the one I think it is breaking is...

advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources. I feel we are breaking the rules when it comes to advocating and modeling legal and ethical use of digital information and technology.  I did not get the rights the movie I just stole them.  Plain and simple.

Action Research Report

What did I do?
We were to take our findings from our T-tests and put into APA format.  We were able to use websites such as OWL to help us do the proper formatting.  We were to also be sure to add a table of our results so that we can we see the answers to our hypotheses easier.  We were then to post into a Google doc and email it to Professor Pierce.  He was willing to look over it and check for any mistakes before he took it as a grade.  Here is my google docs version of my APA.

WARNING:  It changed the format.

MY APA Research

or

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ufs_pPYbOrN3G_X1juHuARFqa-rBOGKRCtNFFrBHYWs/edit

What did I learn?
I definitely learned how to post a table into the results part of an APA paper.  I also learned how to reference a podcast.  I have been doing APA papers for the other class I am in titled 6301 so I found it to be a nice transition to use it with our data in this class.

How can I use it?
I can use this for the rest of my Graduate career....or beyond.  I will be using APA format to do other research papers or to help when reading research articles.  I can apply it to my readings so I can better understand and comprehend certain articles that will aide in my teaching.

ISTE NETS STANDARDS:

This standard shows that we are taking our learning experience of APA formatting and applying to a digital tool.  The digital tool being google docs.  We are promoting learning and creativity by letting Prof. Pierce and our classmates proofread our paper so that we can ensure the best grade.