I Think I'm Done!

I know it sounds crazy right? After ten weeks of work I actually might finish this class and with it's completion my Master's. I have completed my portion of the research project which was to create a paper quiz and then move it to an online format. Last week I posted the online quiz, this week you'll find links to the paper quiz, the student survey and at least a piece of my analysis. The paper quiz has open ended questions rather than the multiple-choice questions which are in the online quiz. The student survey is still rough but I think it gives me a working format at least, but if anyone has suggestions I would be happy to hear them. My analysis at this point is definitely incomplete but I look forward to trying some things out during the next school year.

Thank you for supporting my efforts in completing my master's. Your input, comments, suggestions, and questions have been invaluable to me.

Here are my final documents:
Paper Version of the Quiz
Student Survey
Preliminary Analysis

Who's ready for an online quiz!?!

I'm starting to feel like I'm going to survive this quarter after all. With the comps behind me I've been able to turn my attention to finishing this class, and ETEC 692. I have put up my online quiz after creating it on paper. I struggled to figure out the best formatting online. I discovered that in order for my students to truly receive immediate feedback the questions really needed to be either multiple choice or true/false. This turned out to be OK, since the quiz was focused on identifying the parts of the quadratic formula and memorizing the formula itself (California Content Standard Algebra 1 Standard 19). So, the fill in the blank questions from the paper quiz were easily turned into multiple choice questions online. I was not able to have my students try it out but I am hopeful to add this resource to my repertoire of teaching practices for next year.

If you want to check out the quiz go to Quizstar and enter the following:
Username: guest781
Password: password
Once inside click on untaken quizzes, if there are none listed click on any of the quiz options. Find the quiz named Quadratic Formula and try out your knowledge.

If the link doesn't work just copy and paste the address below:
http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp

As always, any comments, feedback, suggestions and so on are welcome!

IRB Done!!

As the quarter is starting to wind down I somehow feel as if I actually have more work than when I doing my lit review. I think it's the idea that I might actually finish everything, it's a little scary. Saying that I'm relieved that the Comps are over is an understatement although now that they're done I have the anxiety of waiting for the results. I have finished the IRB but now comes the real work of creating the online assessment based off the existing paper model. I think I'm worried about the math formatting which can be difficult in a word program let alone an online text format.

Over the next week I'll be uploading the quiz and testing it out. Plus, I'll be putting together my e-Portfolio and power point presentation for ETEC 692. If I can survive the next three weeks I think I'll really make it!

So, here's what you've all been waiting for:

My IRB

or as always you can copy and paste the link

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQNGGlujIM84ZDIyd2tkN182Y3oyemgyaHI&hl=en

As always any comments, questions or suggestions are always welcome!

The Comps are Tomorrow . . . Really?

This week I have finished my IRB training modules, worked from 7:30 to 4:45 everyday, worked out 5 times and even managed to squeeze in a some time to study for the Comps. I am a bit nervous about the exam tomorrow. I feel prepared for 3 out of the 4 sections but at this point unless I can figure out how to sneak in my research on the topics I think I'll have to just go for it.

As for the IRB training I thought it was rather interesting to read about all of the abuses that human subjects have gone through in the name of science and societal benefits. I think it has made me more aware of the outside pressures that participants may experience from sources you wouldn't think of looking for. What's funny is that in the midst of theses modules I received an e-mail survey on a program that my school is taking part in for a research company. Funny how things in life seem to coincide like that. Well, I should probably head to bed, sleep in eat a hearty breakfast and get ready for an intense 4 hours of testing.

Next week I will be finishing the IRB, and possibly going crazy we'll see which one comes 1st. As always all comments and or suggestions are welcome.

Where is this Quarter Going??

I finished my project proposal and am well on my way with the IRB training modules. It seems like this quarter is flying by. I looked at my calendar and realized that the Comps are in a week and I have yet to really work on the first topic, you know the history one. That one make me the most nervous and I'm working late everyday for the rest of the month. I'm not sure when I'll have time but I have to get some studying in as soon as possible!!! However, at least I feel as if my project is generally under control and with the IRB not being due for a couple of weeks I think I will be able to handle the Comps next week, let's hope right.

Well, you'll find the link for my proposal down below, and as always any comments, questions or suggestions are always welcome!

Project Proposal

or

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQNGGlujIM84ZDIyd2tkN181Y3NubXM0OHM&hl=en

I'm feeling Accomplished!

I think I finished the Literature Review, at least for what I have right now. I'm sure down the line I will want to tweak this or that, find other quotes or supporting research but for right now it's done. Now it's onto the project proposal and completing the IRB trainings. Let's hope I can get a good start on those as well. So, here it is if anyone would like to comment, make suggestions or have a question, please let me know!

Literature Review

And just in case the link doesn't work you can copy and paste the address:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQNGGlujIM84ZDIyd2tkN180Zzh2cXFqaGQ&hl=en

I finished reading . . . YAY!

So I have now read over 30 articles (honestly I stopped counting) and pulled more than 130 quotes and or ideas from those articles which I am now trying to synthesize into a readable text. I finally narrowed down my fields of focus to assessment theory, online assessment tools and student motivation & online assessments. I know that my process of focusing on areas creating subtopics and creating paragraphs from those subtopics using quotes sparingly while combining multiple citations works. I just need to get it done.

In the mean time, I'm feeling as if this quarter is starting to get away from me and while I've been reading my ideas of creating both the paper quiz paired with an online version are slipping away. Plus my principal decided to have us do an EDI workshop in May so I will be unable to have students try out either quiz version because our lesson plans and assessments have already been written for us. However, it always seems as though everything works out one way or another. I'm hoping in the next week to figure out how I might use my classes this year to help me attempt pairing (paper and online). Maybe I'll end up switching and using my support class again like I did in the fall. I have greater flexibility in what I teach with them. Ok, enough complaining I need to get back to work while I still have the opportunity. If you want to see what I have so have go ahead and click on the link below. The formatting is horrible but it is all the quotes and such that I have pulled:

Preliminary Literature Review

As always any and all comments are welcomed. Until next week!

Here's what I got so far . . .

I'm not quite as far as I would like where the literature review is concerned but I think I'm getting there. I've pulled more than 30 articles so far. The method I use is to pull summary sentences of direct quotes that I find helpful in each article and then type them into a word document. After they are all in I sort the quotes based on the themes that I'm writing about. I combine ideas into coherent sentences and paragraphs, including direct quotes when I have found something spectacular. This process allows me to easily site more than one article while comparing and contrasting the different ideas that I have discovered. I'm about 10 articles into the process which I have in a different file for and then will combine it into the total progress.

I need to get more motivated on this literature review!!!

Pre-Thesis

If the link doesn't work copy and paste the following address:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQNGGlujIM84ZDIyd2tkN18yZ3dodG12Y20&hl=en

Yet another change . . .

OK, so is it me or does it sometimes seem like it's 2 steps forward and 1 step back with this project. After the discussion last week I again have reconsidered how I will focus my project. I am now looking at an action research design on what it takes to create, grade and get feedback from a paper test versus an online test. In order to do this I am still going to use my 2 Algebra Concepts classes in order to see how each type of test works and to get feedback on student preference/opinions on the format. Essentially I will be creating a paper test and then moving into an online format, which will be graded immediately and give students immediate feedback. I have state testing for the next two weeks which should give me the perfect amount of time to complete the Literature review and develop the tests/quizzes that I will be using.

At least I feel like I might have a chance on the literature review. I have pulled over 20 articles related to online assessment but still need to figure out the other areas to address. I'm looking forward to listening to Dr. Newberry's podcast on the Literature Review to gain the insight I need to complete this portion of the project.

I am still working on my Pre-Thesis but it should be coming soon!
Thanks for following me!
Leah

I think I'm on the right track . . . I hope!

OK, so after considering what this quarter is going to look like both at work and home I think I may have figured out what I would like to do for my research. I would like to examine the use of online quizzes as opposed to paper tests. I am considering using my 2 Algebra Concepts courses to create a comparison study. The first assessment one class would take it using paper and the other would take it using the computer. On the second assessment the classes would switch roles. I would probably combine these experiences with a survey to acquire the student's opinions of taking online assessments. I'm still working out all the details and looking at the beginning to middle of May to actually have the assessments. Now all I have to do is the research! Literature Review here I come. If you're interested in my time line I'm going to try to create a link but I will also include the address so you can just copy and paste. I would love your input!

Thanks!
Leah

Time Line

If the link doesn't work for some reason try copying and pasting:

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQNGGlujIM84ZDIyd2tkN18xczNtcHQ0ZjQ&hl=en

What did I get myself into?

The first thought that came to mind tonight during and shortly after class was, "what did I get myself into?" I'm hoping that over the next week I can get a plan into place and start to really work on this project. After discussing my project in class I think I'm leaning towards doing a pre-post test model coupled with traditional teaching methods. The tests will be online. I'm considering trying to work with my Algebra Concepts classes (I have 2 or those), where one class will take the test using traditional paper and pencil and the other class will take the test online. The goal this week is to get with my computer lab technician, look at the schedule over the next 6 weeks and figure out what is really feasible to get done.

At least I know what to start researching. I will be concentrating my literature review on the use of online assessments, especially in secondary arena. I hope that this will all come together one way or another.