Gwynnedd-Mercy+Academy+Elementary

**Action Research Project - Template**

**Team Members**
Diane Joganich - Technology Coordinator Sue Costantini - Computer Teacher (K-8th grades) Kathy Foy - Science Teacher (5th-6th grades) Elizabeth Santangelo - Science Teacher (7th-8th grades) Mary Johnson - Librarian and K-3rd grade Reading teacher Jessica Cressman - 3rd grade Teacher Kate Kroszner - French Teacher (K-8th grades)

**Abstract - What we hope to accomplish**
Teacher Goals - Model 21st Century Learning for our students by: • Be self-directed lifelong learners - mobile, anytime and anywhere – not just in the classroom • Work collaboratively with others to integrate technology into the curriculum • Share ideas and expertise - join professional Learning Networks and/or Communities • Apply critical thinking, problem solving, and analysis of information into lessons through Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Skills and project-based real world assignments • Empower learners through identification of learning preferences (Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic) and instructing and assessing accordingly • Recognize the future of education is the personalization for all learners (National Education Technology Plan [|www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010] )

<span style="font-size: 1.03em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Problem, Issue, or Possibility**
Needs – Areas that need improvement <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Address learning style preferences with a variety of technology and project-based instructional strategies <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Help teachers become more comfortable with technology <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Share motivation tactics for the “Net Generation” <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Incorporate technology into the curriculum through teacher collaboration of interdisciplinary themes <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Encourage teachers and students to become independent learners by joining learning communities and showcasing their projects <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Use technology to improve learning – transfer and **retention** of knowledge with Higher Order Thinking skills - project based learning, simulations, alternative assessments, social networking, publishing and sharing

<span style="font-size: 1.03em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Objectives and Assessment**

 * = ** Outcomes ** || **Evaluation**  ||
 * Identify and expand students’ learning styles || Take preference inventories ||
 * Teachers will implement diverse modes of learning by incorporating all 3 learning styles (V, A, K) as well as Higher Order Thinking skills into their teaching strategies || Lesson plans ||
 * Teachers will do at least one tech project a year in collaboration with the computer teacher to become more comfortable with technology || Lesson plans ||
 * Teachers will try new Web2.0 tools and work with the computer teacher and/or tech coordinator || Share experiences by documenting and posting for future reference ||
 * We will empower all students and teachers to be independent learners by expanding the educational experiences resulting in increased student achievement and success. || Showcase technology, terra nova scores, report card grades, authentic assessment, electronic portfolios ||
 * All teachers, faculty and staff will take a professional development course that focuses on Web2.0 tools || Teacher evaluations ||
 * Implementation Plan**


 * = **Action** ||= <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">**People Responsible** || **<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">Time Frame ** || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;">** **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Resources ** ** ||  **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">Evaluations **  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;"> **Date Completed**  ||
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Middle States Reaccreditation process || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">All GMAE faculty and staff  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">April 2009 – ongoing  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Middle States Reaccreditation binder - Goals  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Outlined below  || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Ongoing  ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Identify/create learning styles assessment  ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Curriculum Director and Curriculum Coordinators   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Fall 2010   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Learning styles inventories   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Selected Learning Styles Inventory   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Fall 2010   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Pre-assess students and faculty  ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Curriculum Director, all students and faculty   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Fall 2010   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Faculty and student results   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Pre-assessment results on inventory   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Fall 2010   ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Analyze results  ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Curriculum Director   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Winter 2010-2011   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Faculty and student results    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">spreadsheet   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Faculty and student results    <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">spreadsheet   ||  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt;">Jan 2011   ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Communicate results of learning styles and present teaching strategies || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">All GMAE faculty, staff, and students  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Fall 2010  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Results of learning styles’ pre-assessment  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Charts and graphs of learning style results  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Fall 2010  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Select a tool to assess individual faculty/staff members for technology professional development needs || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Directors of Technology and Curriculum  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Summer 2010  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Technology skills assessment  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Skills assessment  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Fall 2010  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Faculty complete assessment || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">faculty  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Fall 2010  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Faculty skills assessment  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">results on inventory  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Fall 2010  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Analyze results and identify faculty/staff that can help teach and mentor other colleagues on skills || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Technology Director  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Fall 2010  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Faculty skills assessment  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Results on inventory, publish results  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Fall 2010  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Develop directory/guidelines of existing tech resources available for curriculum integration || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Technology Director, librarians, faculty  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">January 2011  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">All online subscription databases, text book resources, software  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Technology Resource  <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Directory  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">January 2011  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Evaluate new Web2.0 resources for grade level, learning styles, HOT skills || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Directors of Tech and Curriculum, Curriculum coordinators, PLP team members  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">2010-2011 school year and on-going  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Spreadsheet (Google doc) of web2.0 resources  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Web2.0 resources master list  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Ongoing  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Provide workshops to integrate technology within the learning environment || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Directors of Tech and Curriculum, PLP team, administration, faculty  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Teacher in-service days in October 2011, January and March 2012  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Web2.0 sites or applications that address each learning style  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Web2.0 resources master list, teacher evaluations after each session  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Spring 2012  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Evaluate existing technology, hardware, and software, updating and expanding with integration of new tech strategies || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Technology Director, faculty and staff  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">ongoing  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Research internal and external facilitators to support professional development  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Web2.0 resources master list, faculty/staff, student and parent evaluations  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Ongoing  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Identify professional development opportunities focused on best practices || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Technology and Curriculum Directors, PLP team  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">2011-2015  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Faculty input, internal/external facilitators, Intermediate Unit, colleges, universities, Prof. learning networks and communities  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Teacher, faculty, administration, student and parent evaluations  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Ongoing  ||
 * <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Teachers share best practices and successful strategies for meeting the needs of individual learners || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Directors of Technology and Curriculum, Curriculum coordinators, PLP team members  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">2011-2012 school year and on-going  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Hardware, software, online resources  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Faculty, Unit and Grade level meetings  || <span style="color: black; display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 8pt; text-align: center;">Ongoing  ||

<span style="font-size: 1.03em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Evaluation and Results**
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Learning styles inventory identified the order of student preferences as doing, seeing and lastly hearing. Teachers identified favoring seeing, doing then hearing. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Teachers (visual) and students (kinesthetic) have different learning styles. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Hearing or auditory modes of instruction are least favored by both teachers and students so auditory instructions should be accompanied with visual or kinesthetic reinforcement. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Interactive multimedia technology utilizes the “doing” learning strategy and improves learning, motivation, and differentiation for individual learners. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Teachers can improve comfortable level with technology by utilizing one-on-one training and help with integration in their classrooms. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Technology needs to be taught across the curriculum and integrated into each subject at all grade levels with technology in the classroom not just the computer lab. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Web2.0 resources need to be tested and evaluated before used in a whole-class setting. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Web2.0 Accounts need to be set up and student/teacher expectations defined. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Teachers need to take responsibility for becoming independent learners by modeling the behavior, find mentoring support and contribute to a PLC or PLN (professional learning community of network).

**Items That Need Review** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Digital Citizenship needs to be added to curriculum <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Teacher evaluations need changed to reflect technology integration <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Lesson plan templates need changed to reflect technology integration (see National Core Curriculum sample  <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Scheduling changes needed to allow more time for technology integration   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Learning Styles inventory needs reviewed and/or changed for Kindergarten and First grade (non-readers)   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• More teacher involvement in Tech Tuesdays   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Technology Showcase and/or Montgomery County Computer Fair   <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Electronic portfolios

<span style="font-size: 1.03em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Artifacts and Documentation**
<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Middle States binder <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Binder of any paperwork that does not fit on boards <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Samples of Web2.0 lesson plans from teachers <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Pictures of collaborative learning – 3rd grade Family Heritage project <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Learning Styles data and presentations with Learner Survey <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Tech skills assessment and faculty results <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Web2.0 resources - Google Doc evaluated for Learning styles and HOT skils <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Any book, article or website with learning style or web2.0 resources <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Computer with video from Kate’s French skits <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Technology Resources Directory <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Teacher/Faculty technology skills assessment and results <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• Sample lesson of new National Core Curriculum <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• National Education Technology Plan ( [|www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010] ) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">• List of classes available for professional development emphasizing technology integration - MCIU catalog