6.1 Continuous Learning
Candidates demonstrate continual growth in knowledge and skills of current and emerging technologies and apply them to improve personal productivity and professional practice.
Literature Review
The Literature Review was completed in the Educational Research course. The purpose of this artifact was to evaluate and synthesize previous completed research on an instructional technology related topic to develop a summary of the findings. I chose to complete my research on web 2.0 tools in an educational setting. I decided on this topic because I have a lot of interest in the implementation of Internet tools in my classroom. Also, for my Capstone Project, I decided to develop a professional learning community that focuses on web tool implementation. The Literature Review contains the following sections: Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, Implications for Practice, and References. The completion of the artifact required extensive professional reading as over 25 articles were referenced. The Literature Review gave me an opportunity to research emerging technologies and, ultimately, I applied this knowledge to my own teaching practices.
The Literature Review demonstrates mastery of Standard 6.1 because the artifact allowed me to have an exponential amount of growth in my knowledge and skills in regards to Internet tools. I was able to apply this new knowledge and skill into my own professional practice. I was able to share this knowledge with other educators through the implementation of a professional learning community about web 2.0 tools.
By completing the Literature Review, I learned a lot about the research process. Before this course, I didn't even know what separated a literature review from a research article. I am really proud that I completed this assignment, because it definitely stretched me the farthest of all my course work. I feel like I made a lot of gains as a writer and researcher while completing the Literature Review. By writing a literature review, I learned how to break down and analyze a literature review. This will help me with my future research endeavors. Completing this artifact also reminded me of the importance of collecting research about emerging technologies. Before implementing a technology in my classroom, it is important to find out what others have done that was effective and what wasn't successful. To improve the quality of the Literature Review, I would like to complete further research about the effect of web tool implementation on test scores and student achievement. From the research I completed for the Literature Review, I determined that web tools provide engaging, authentic instruction, but I did not find much quantative data about web tools in the classroom.
The Literature Review impacts faculty development because the artifact provided an opportunity for me to complete extensive research that I could, in turn, apply to professional learning sessions I implemented at my school. I was able to further development my own knowledge about web tools and share that knowledge with my colleagues. This impact could be assessed by evaluating the professional learning community that I implemented at my school as well as assessing the inclusion of web tools in my own classroom. The Literature Review also impacts student learning because I am applying the knowledge and skills I've gained from my research in my own classroom with my students. This impact could be assessed by evaluating student learning and engagement in regards to web tools.
The Literature Review demonstrates mastery of Standard 6.1 because the artifact allowed me to have an exponential amount of growth in my knowledge and skills in regards to Internet tools. I was able to apply this new knowledge and skill into my own professional practice. I was able to share this knowledge with other educators through the implementation of a professional learning community about web 2.0 tools.
By completing the Literature Review, I learned a lot about the research process. Before this course, I didn't even know what separated a literature review from a research article. I am really proud that I completed this assignment, because it definitely stretched me the farthest of all my course work. I feel like I made a lot of gains as a writer and researcher while completing the Literature Review. By writing a literature review, I learned how to break down and analyze a literature review. This will help me with my future research endeavors. Completing this artifact also reminded me of the importance of collecting research about emerging technologies. Before implementing a technology in my classroom, it is important to find out what others have done that was effective and what wasn't successful. To improve the quality of the Literature Review, I would like to complete further research about the effect of web tool implementation on test scores and student achievement. From the research I completed for the Literature Review, I determined that web tools provide engaging, authentic instruction, but I did not find much quantative data about web tools in the classroom.
The Literature Review impacts faculty development because the artifact provided an opportunity for me to complete extensive research that I could, in turn, apply to professional learning sessions I implemented at my school. I was able to further development my own knowledge about web tools and share that knowledge with my colleagues. This impact could be assessed by evaluating the professional learning community that I implemented at my school as well as assessing the inclusion of web tools in my own classroom. The Literature Review also impacts student learning because I am applying the knowledge and skills I've gained from my research in my own classroom with my students. This impact could be assessed by evaluating student learning and engagement in regards to web tools.