Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Coach Teacher Action Research

Nancy Fichtman Dana

Christopher D. Sessums

Kara Dawson

University of Florida

Our Mission: To support and promote practitioner inquiry as a primary mechanism for school improvement in schools throughout the state.

Overview of Presentation

• What is action research?• What does it mean to effectively coach this process?• What are some strategies coaches can employ to

deepen the action research process?• How might coaches be supported through Web 2.0

technologies?• How might technology aid in the design, distribution,

and mentoring of action research within and across a district?

Overview of Presentation

• What is action research?• What does it mean to effectively coach this process?• What are some strategies coaches can employ to

deepen the action research process?• How might coaches be supported through Web 2.0

technologies?• How might technology aid in the design, distribution,

and mentoring of action research within and across a district?

What is action research?

Action Research/ Teacher Research/ Teacher Inquiry/ Practitioner Inquiry/ Classroom Research

Systematic, intentional study by teachers of their own classroom practice

(Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 1993)

Components of the Action Research Cycle

Wondering (Question) Development Data Collection Data Analysis Synthesis/Sharing Action

An Example of Teacher Research

Focus on Fractured Fairy Tales and Fluency Flourishes

- Debbi Hubbell, 4th Grade Teacher

Debbi’s Wondering

What is the relationship between my fourth graders’ fluency development and the reading of fractured fairy tales?

Debbi’s Instructional Plan

Day One: Students chose parts, Debbi read the play to the group, then students practiced silently

Day Two: Students practiced silently, then aloud with the group to Debbi; Debbi followed with short individual conferences

Day Three: Students practiced silently, then aloud with the group to Debbi

Day Four: Students practiced silently, then presented aloud with the group to the class

Debbi’s Data Collection Plan

DIBELS Observation of Students - Anecdotal

Notes Student Artifacts – “Dear Mrs. Hubbell”

letters

Debbi’s Data Analysis Plan

Chart DIBELS data - Compare DIBELS scores over time Read Through Observations and Student Artifacts

multiple times asking questions such as: What was happening?What have I learned about myself as a teacher?What have I learned about children? What are the implications of my findings for my teaching?

Discuss analysis with teaching colleagues

DIBELS Test Results

10/18 12/1 2/10 2/21 4/6J 48 53 55 60 73B 81 98 114 105 164C 90 98 95 100 130 Ja 64 70 92 85 119T 93 96 88 97 121S 94 91 86 78 113M 84 101 99 107 127

Debbi’s Themes:

Enjoyment/Enthusiasm Students perceive academic benefits Positive social interactions

Enjoyment/Enthusiasm …

Academic Benefits …

Positive social interactions …

In Summary …

Debbi’s Action

Develop school/district wide fluency objectives

Homework for 60 wpm kids vs. 180 wpm kids Make listening centers more effective Connect to struggling readers in secondary

school

Overview of Presentation

• What is action research?• What does it mean to effectively coach this process?• What are some strategies coaches can employ to

deepen the action research process?• How might coaches be supported through Web 2.0

technologies?• How might technology aid in the design, distribution,

and mentoring of action research within and across a district?

Four Critical Junctures

Defining and refining a wondering Developing a research plan Analyzing data Sharing work with others

Overview of Presentation

• What is action research?• What does it mean to effectively coach this process?• What are some strategies coaches can employ to

deepen the action research process?• How might coaches be supported through Web 2.0

technologies?• How might technology aid in the design, distribution,

and mentoring of action research within and across a district?

Four Critical Junctures

Defining and refining a wondering Developing a research plan Analyzing data Sharing work with others

Complexity of Teachers’ Work in the Classroom

Felt Difficulties and Real World Dilemmas

Wonderings: Questions of Practice

Four Critical Junctures

Defining and refining a wondering Developing a research plan Analyzing data Sharing work with others

The Inquiry Brief

One to two page proposal for action research indicating purpose, wonderings/questions, data collection and analysis strategies, and time-line for study

Four Critical Junctures

Defining and refining a wondering Developing a research plan Analyzing data Sharing work with others

Four Critical Junctures

Defining and refining a wondering Developing a research plan Analyzing data Sharing work with others

Overview of Presentation

• What is action research?• What does it mean to effectively coach this process?• What are some strategies coaches can employ to

deepen the action research process?• How might coaches be supported through Web 2.0

technologies?• How might technology aid in the design, distribution,

and mentoring of action research within and across a district?

How might coaches be supported through Web 2.0 technologies?

• Define Web 2.0 technologies• An example of an online learning community• Discuss other applications that can support networks

Web 2.0 definition

• Digital technologies that allow for

• sharing

• conversation• collaboration• collective action

(Shirky, 2008)

Example of an online learning community

• Network of AR coaches (12)• Separated geographically• Connected by weblog community site• Led by a site/coaching facilitator• Limited face-to-face meetings (3)• Covered a 9 month period

• OLC Goals: >> networking/social support>> deepening AR/TI & coaching knowledge>> logistical support

Example of an online learning community

• Participant Actions & Roles

© csessums 2009

Example of an online learning community

• With the aid of the online learning community, participants were able to:

• share and problematize experiences• share resources• engage in conversations about practice• collaborate on the enterprise of

(1) supporting teacher researchers and(2) supporting each other

• • collectively support the production of a Showcase of projects• Build expertise in and deepen their knowledge of AR/TI & coaching, and • Deepen their own philosophy of coaching

What other applications can support and sustain learning communities online?

Thoughts?

What other applications can support and sustain learning communities online?

Wikis (PBWiki, WetPaint)

Social networking apps (ex: Ning, Google Groups, Eduspaces)

Blogs and Microblogs (Blogger, Wordpress, Twitter)

Voice & Video Sharing apps (YouTube, Seesmic, Voicethread, Skype)

Office Suite apps (GoogleDocs, Zotero, Zoho)

Start Page apps (PageFlakes, NetVibes)

Overview of Presentation

• What is action research?• What does it mean to effectively coach this process?• What are some strategies coaches can employ to

deepen the action research process?• How might coaches be supported through Web 2.0

technologies?• How might technology aid in the design, distribution,

and mentoring of action research within and across a district?

What other applications can support and sustain learning communities online?

AR may help schools and districts aggregate data from multiple classrooms while enabling teachers to reap the benefits of systematically and intentionally studying their own practice through inquiry

ARTI is part of a statewide initiative looking at the impact of statewide technology funding and systemic professional development efforts on teaching practices and student achievement.

ARTI is used to study the impact of Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) funding in Florida districts. Teachers from EETT districts use ARTI with the support of AR mentors trained in the AR process.

What other applications can support and sustain learning communities online?

Available to districts and teacher education programs

Streamlines AR process to make it accessible to more educators

Upcoming: Embedded multimedia coaching

Upcoming: Embedded online communities

Resources for Coaching Action Research

Contact Us . . .

Nancy Fichtman Dana

ndana@coe.ufl.edu

Christopher Sessums

csessums@coe.ufl.edu

Kara Dawson

dawson@coe.ufl.edu

Visit the CSI website at www.coe.ufl.edu/csi