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.  

Hypothesis Testing

Here goes nothing....

What did I do?
If there ever was some doing be to be done for this class it was with this assignment.  I am a mac user.  Now I love my Mac and will never go back but for a technology related class, the assignment should have been tested on a Mac.  The Mac does not have the data toolpack you can find on a PC instead I downloaded Stat Plus, only to find that it made life more confusing.  So after a few tears, I memorized Dr. Pierces video (I wish it had some talking through it), I took a day off from it and went to work.  While I was at work I realized I was sitting at a PC.  I took the opportunity to download the data tool pack on my school computer and it worked.  I was relieved to have finally been able to complete this project, but once again I am not happy that I was unable to do this within my own home, instead I had to stay at work longer to do this.  I just really wish there would have been a screen cast for Mac users.  After plugging in all the necessary information into the tool pack I came up with the P values.  Which can be seen here:

	AGE	Gender	Teaching
Score	0.428514	0.284535	0.06
D.Posts	0.003893*	0.444181	0.35*
MelScore	0.089129	0.376572	0.014593*

P = .05

P = .05

and

	Chrome Vs. Safari	Chrome vs. Firefox	Chrome vs IE	Safari vs. IE
Score	0.105159	0.133	0.027*	0.343349
D.Posts	0.227429	0.42832	0.195701	0.244005
MelScore	0.41546	0.390356	0.271535	0.053398*

What did I learn?
I learned that this was way easier for PC users.  I hate to say that but it is true.  I am a true Mac fan.  I learned that many factors do not matter in this class such as your mel score and if you use safari or IE.  I also learned that your fake quiz score is not effected by if you use chrome or safari.

How can I use it?
What I am getting from this, we should use this within the classroom to pin point if the boys are stronger in a subject area than the girls or vice versa.  You could compare a bunch of factors within your class to help guide student learning.

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


I feel this one was used the most with this activity because I did so much talking and borrowing of others ideas.  I don't know if that was meant to be outcome but it is the truth.  I definitely collaborated with my peers in helps with using this digital tool.  We supported each other as students to hopefully success.

Data Analysis

What did I do?
After applying all of our data we were then to come up with a hypothesis and a null hypothesis on our two topics.  I chose to focus on the fake quiz scores and also the number of discussion posts.  My Hypothesis for each is that Gender does not effect the scores on the fake quiz and Females will have more discussion posts than males.  I placed all of the data into separate excel programs so I could find the average score for each male and female on the fake quiz and then find the sum for each male and female on discussion posts.

What did I learn?
It goes as followed.

Hypothesis Number 1:
Gender does not effect the scores of the fake quiz.

Null Hypothesis Number 1:
We are so close in scores I am going to say it is true!

Hypothesis Number 2:
Females will have more discussion posts than males.

Null Hypothesis Number 2:

As you can see Males in fact have more discussion posts on average than women.  I am surprised sing there are so many more women in the class.  

How can I use it?
You can use this when you want to figure out statistics and such within your own class.  It can also put things into perspective if you want to reteach a concept because their scores show as such.

What standard?

This promotes student learning because it helps you as a teacher to gain knowledge on their own scores and where they stand.  It also is a digital tool to show your grades at a glance.

Research Overview

I used to teach in WV for four years and got both of my degrees from WV.  I also grew up until the age of 8 in WV.  I am proud to say I am a product of the WV educational system but also now can compare to my Ohio teaching.  One thing I noticed between Ohio and WV is the difference in content standards and the difference in standardized tests.  It is much more rigorous here in Ohio but I am aware of the WESTEST.  I also know there is a huge difference between the unions.  We are going through a really hard time right now with our unions and there is fear that Issue 2 will not pass which will cause a huge change in the way our schools are run.  Fear...yes!  I miss having the option to be in a union that WV gave me.  Here in ohio you do not have an option.  I also know there is a lack of funding for education all over.  I also see how there is a major lack of funding for schools who do not perform well when they are the schools who need it the most.