Teachers’ perceptions and experiences using web 2.0 tools in the k 12 virtual classroom 041910
- 1. Teachers’ Perceptions and Experiences Using Web 2.0 Tools in the K-12 Virtual Classroom Research Team:Dr. Raquel Mongillo rmongillo@kaplan.eduDr. Donna Cadydcady@kaplan.eduDr. Robin Jamesrobinjames18@gmail.com
- 2. Agenda What are virtual K-12 schools?Why were we interested in collecting data from virtual K-12 schools?What are Web 2.0 tools?Why were we interested in collected data to get at teacher perceptions?
- 3. Research questions1. What are virtual high school teachers' perceptions, knowledge, use and ideas regarding Web 2.0 applications in the classroom?2. Are virtual high school teachers currently using Web 2.0 applications in the classroom? 3. What are virtual high school teachers’ views on student engagement and academic achievement, among those who are using Web 2.0 applications?
- 4. Research design: Subjects Subjects were self-selected from an online K-12 school of their 217 faculty member pool44 online K-12 teachers participated in the online survey5 teachers who participated in the survey volunteered to clarify some questions the researchers had about the survey data via a follow-up asynchronous blog exchange facilitated by one of the researchers
- 5. Data Collection Anonymous online surveyFollow-up online focus group via a blog meant to help clarify issues arising from the survey data.
- 6. Survey Questions Which technology tools do you currently use now? (list non Web 2.0 tool such as PowerPoint presentation, Internet, Excel Spreadsheet)Which Web 2.0 tools do you currently use as part of your curriculum?Which Web 2.0 tools would you like to use as part of your curriculum?On a scale from 1-5, 1 being not important and 5 being very important, how would you rate the use of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom?
- 7. Survey Questions (con’t) How comfortable do you feel using the following tools in the classroom? Would you like to participate in professional development activities that would teach you how to incorporate Web 2.0 tools into your curriculum?Please rate your reasons for not using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. I don't have enough training; It takes too much time; I don't see the value of it; I do not have the proper technology.Of the Web 2.0 applications you have heard about, what is the reason you are not using them as instructional tools?
- 8. Highlights of Survey Findings
- 9. Survey Qualitative HighlightsMixed methodology design based on focus group interviews with participating OFLC membersQualitative pre-testing questionnaires and follow-up group interviews with OFLC members Phenomenological, audience-centered perspective
- 10. Which Web 2.0 tools do you currently use as part of your curriculum? (Check all that apply).“none - I haven't been trained in using some of these, and am not sure how to apply the ones I do know how to use in my classroom”“I'm not even sure what some of these things are - wikis, podcasting. I assume social networking is like FB?”Do you think Web 2.0 tools have value in education? 100% responded YES
- 11. Please rate your reasons for not using Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.
- 12. Focus Group Blog Questions What incentives do you have in place for completing professional development? Do you have specific ideas, projects, lessons, activities ....that you would like to develop in your classroom using Web 2.0 tools? Please share them with us. If you were involved in some type of Web 2.0 tools training...what would you hope to gain from the training? What would you like the training to look like?
- 13. Preliminary Qualitative Data AnalysisOnline blog focus group discussion yielded too few data to warrant strong conclusions;
- 14. however this data was transcribed and analyzed using a grounded theory approach (Glaser and Strauss, 1967; Strauss and Corbin, 1990)
- 15. Three-pass system of reading, coding, and theme-building
- 16. Four overarching themes were identifiedLimitationsThis study is limited to online education. Further research and comparisons with on-ground education are suggested.
- 17. The results of the blog were not representative of all participants in the study.Implications for the ClassroomIf teachers were provided more training in using Web 2.0 tools, they would likely use them to increase student performance.
- 18. Creating professional development trainings for teachers is essential for the effective of Web 2.0 tools.
- 19. Professional development is more important than the technology. Implications/Suggestions for Further Research & ActionClassroom teachers want and need effective training on Web 2.0 tools before they can integrate into their lessons.On-going support and idea exchange of teachers trained on Web 2.0 tools while they are using them in their classrooms. This sharing could be done in the form of a blog/forum etc....where teachers could post their lesson plans integrating Web 2.0 toolsand ask for ideas, suggestions, help with roadblocks, etc and truly collaborate with othereducators.Creation of an online “Vault” of projects/lessons by grade/subject area where teachers could pick and choose and re-invent the lessons to fit their specific learners' needs. An anticipated "roadblock" of using Web 2.0 in the classroom could be the assessment piece ...how to effectively assess student's progress through the Web 2.0 tools ....an idea for training could be "assessment using web 2.0 tools“.
- 20. Any questions about this project or if you would like to collaborate with us on a follow-up study please contactus at: Dr. Raquel Mongillo rmongillo@kaplan.eduDr. Donna Cadydcady@kaplan.eduDr. Robin Jamesrobinjames18@gmail.com