The Haverford School Team 1

Team Members: Nancy Agati, Dan DelDuca, Sandy Krieg, Tracy Nelson, Nate Pankratz, John Suter
Community: ADVIS Community Year 1, 2010-2011

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly – 6th grade 1-1 netbook program.
The question: What is the value of 1-1 netbooking and is it helping us to implement web 2.0 tools?
We began a 1-1 netbook program with our 6th grade students this year. Our curriculum has clearly changed throughout this process and we decided that there was significant value in researching how our lessons and activities have actually changed with the introduction of our netbooks. We didn’t want to just change what we are doing but rather increase the value added for our boy’s learning experiences. Not all pieces have gone smoothly and have hit many “bumbs” in the road.

All 6th grade students were given their own netbooks in September.

The problem: How do we change our lessons using these tools so that the technology effectively enhances the student learning?

The issue: To make the learning become more project based and student centered.

The possibility: Sharing information, creating something new and taking ownership of their learning.

  1. Our objective was to see if our 1-1 program was working and if it should be continued and/or modified. We wanted to observe if teachers were implementing web 2.0 tools so that the learning experience was enhanced.
  2. To observe and evaluate use of student and teacher use of 1-1 computing
  3. To determine if there has been value added to lessons within the classroom and student learning.
  4. To weigh the pros/cons against the logistics- equipment issues, gaming, breakage, maintenance, tech support, care, software, student ownership/accountability

Evidence: We documented lessons, projects, surveys, student work on our wiki. We will do a student/faculty survey and a meeting with our tech dept

  • Gave the boys their netbooks – September
  • All boys set up google accounts – Sept/Oct
  • Web 2.0 tools introduced – different tools introduced – Sept-May
  • PLP Wiki was created to document project based lessons, student work etc – Dec
  • Surveying faculty – good, bad, and the ugly – posing different questions/concerns – Jan-May
  • Meeting with Tech Dept – June
More time should have been spent introducing the care and uses of the netbooks in September. The tools worked, our lessons changed, there was value added BUT at a cost. We had significant physical issues …. which became the ever increasing focus. This lead us to question the 1-1 program and wonder if there is a better option that could still accomplish the same results.
The team has artifacts, videos, and more resources at its wiki page.

 

About Action Research Projects

Action research is a process in which Powerful Learning Team members collaboratively examine their own educational practice systematically and carefully. Action research is:

  • Disciplined inquiry into a problem or possibility within the school or classroom
  • Collaborative and usually takes place in a community of practice
  • Meaningful, positive, and reflective
  • Data-driven, action-based, improvement-focused
  • Transformative

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Sheryl is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Powerful Learning Practice. She works with schools and districts from around the world helping them to infuse technology into their curriculums and by leading other digital conversion efforts. Sheryl also consults with governments, educational organizations and non-profits in development of their various professional learning initiatives. Sheryl is a sought-after presenter at national and international events, speaking on topics related to digital and online learning, teacher and educational leadership, online community building, and other educational issues impacting children of poverty. Sheryl served on the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Board of Directors for six years. She co-authored The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age with Lani Ritter Hall. Sheryl has four children and four grandsons, Luke, Logan, Levi and Tanner and a trio of dachshunds. You can find out more on her blog and on Twitter @snbeach.

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