Sample Action Research Report Evaluation1

In-spite of the global crusade for increasing the use of technology in classrooms to aid teaching and learning, there are some people however who are not so keen to embrace the idea. Those who subscribe to this idea believe that the introduction of technology into the classroom is hurting the teaching and learning of subjects like science and mathematics. In a web article titled “Why Johnny Can’t Add Without a Calculator”, the author Mr. Konstantin Kakaes had this to say about technology in education; “It is beginning to do to our educational system what the transformation to industrial agriculture has done to our food system over the past half century: efficiently produce a deluge of cheap, empty calories” (K, Kakaes, 2012). Against the argument

Technology is everywhere, it is involved in almost every part of our culture. It affects how we live, work, play, and most importantly learn. With technology being such a fundamental part of our lives and growing each day, it only makes sense that schools incorporate technology in the classrooms. Even though many people support the use of technology in schools, there are those that have concerns about the effectiveness of technology and whether or not it undermines education to solely prepare students for the workforce. Despite the concerns, technology is being integrated with classroom lessons daily, and proving how beneficial it is for student success.

The incorporation of technology in education encourages students to become critical thinker’s problem solvers, who use strategies and practices learned through technological activities and apply them to their own lives. The use of technology in the learning environment encourages students’ engagement in teaching and learning activities, combined with the provision of opportunities for students ’higher level of learning and collaboration, which are necessary skills required for successful achievement in today’s college and career lives.

Technology has developed far quicker in the last fifty years than ever before in the history mankind. It has influenced the way we all live in countless ways including how we learn. In a culture that has become increasingly reliant on technology, it is not shocking that technology has become part of the permanent setting in our schools and classrooms. Technology is changing the landscape of education, modernizing how educators teach, how children learn and how parents contribute in the process. The digital-technology revolution was slow to penetrate the ranks of America's public high schools and slower still to trickle down to the ranks of our elementary institutions. The good news is that high-tech teaching is finally providing a forceful impact to the elementary learning process. Elementary level education is a student’s foundation of their academic period and it is in this stage where technology should be embraced to learn and teach.

Technology can help students in all areas of study. Students need to be able to use this technology since, “Currently and in the near future, it is understood that students need to acquire more autonomous skills of ‘information gathering, analysis, and display’” (Todnem, 2004, p. 1). Furthermore, the use of technology, mainly the internet, provides for variation since “Students find themselves bored and burnt-out of the lecture format to classes, so changing the curriculum and instruction to include things like online assignments and educational videogames can be one clear remedy” (Todnem, 2004, p. 1). Teachers who have implemented technology into their classrooms have noticed changes in their students. The most common of these effects being an increase in motivation. In “Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students” another positive effect is given “technology effect stressed by many teachers was enhancement of student self esteem” (“Effects,” 2004, p. 2).

Due to the easy availability of the information to both the student as well the teacher, there is a balance of power between the student and teacher. The process of giving as well as receiving feedback helps both the teacher and the student. The student can give constructive criticism to the teacher. Due to technology, classroom activities “feel” more real-world and relevant so student take these activities more seriously even if they are not good in studies {reference:-thejournal.com]. Thus students are more engaged and knowledge than before due to easy access to technology.

Also by the year 1999 it is found that an unexpectedly a larger percentage (96.95%) of kindergarten students can access computers either home or school. Based on some statistics, even poor students who might not access the technology at home are utilizing it by either using the available resources in the library of their school, or in a classmate’s house. These statistics prove that technology has a vital role in the lives of students. It has helped to verify why an educator presume the change is essential in teaching and learning methods. If students are so engaged in using the technology outside the classroom, they value it. Then it would be logical to assume that if technology were merged into the classroom learning environment has to be more purposeful to the students. Considering the fact that all parts of society are changed significantly in an unseen way by information technology and has been continuing the change so that the future will not be neglected. Schools have to adopt these changes and research must advance with the belief that technology is and will exist to be an expanding component in the educational system. This is the actuality why the students are so involved when it comes to the usage of technology. It is a herculean task to progress in a world which is run by technology and not be affected by it.

Students are interested in learning when school is fun and the educational programs are designed to be engaging. Many schools are embracing technology that actively involve students in learning. The programs are designed to reach out to students and grasp their attention. Students from all different academic abilities can learn and express their knowledge through their use of digital technology. Advancements in technology is allowing for more competition in society while presenting escalating global opportunities. Information is crossing borders and boundaries geographically, allowing investment of the students to compete for opportunities. Through the use of education systems, children can increase learning opportunities to become participants in society to further their growth into model citizens. Children can learn to become socially involved in their surroundings while accepting diversity and using the tools of their educational programs for innovation. Today’s classrooms are small and the technology used should be designed to meet the needs of students learning conditions. Schools need to accommodate classrooms for students and facilitate their learning, showing them the benefits and advantages to exploring learning with the use of technology. One of the most debated issues discussed in education today is the use of computers. An article of concern in the text book was Issue 20. It questioned, “Do Computers

As the teachers are taking a step back and computers are taking a step forward, it is allowing the students to become more independent with their schooling. Multiple studies and observations have shown that the students enjoy working and learning on the computers because of the many different forms that computers can present information. The ability to individualize lessons and topics is something that is crucial to education, because the teachers cannot have a classroom full of students and teach each of them how they learn best. “The Impact of Technology on Student

Using technology as a way of creating a new and interesting approach to learning we will reengage children to love learning. Through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics also, known as S.T.E.A.M we can allow our children to discover the world in a new inventive way. S.T.E.A.M technology allows children to have a hands-on approach that builds cognitive, social/ emotional skills, and fine motor skills. Developing these skills in early childhood is important in developing their minds and building necessary skills that help them later in school as well as life. Using technology is a way of creating a new and interesting approaches to learning.

Hollis’s 1995 study focused on the effects of technology on young learner’s enthusiasm for learning science inside and outside of the classroom. This area of focus studied how implementing technology to teach science concepts impacted student’s motivation for learning science in the classroom. The teacher researcher’s study involves both teaching and learning as it focused on properly training teachers how to use and implement technological tools and software. Once teachers knew how to efficiently implement technology into their classrooms, they were able to incorporate such technology as tools to enhance student’s learning. Hollis (1995) notes “today’s middle school students have grown up in a technological world with television, electronic toys, video games, VCRs, cellular phones and more” and “they are accustomed to receiving and processing information through multi-sensory sources” (p. 1).

My CT would use a document camera or a PowerPoint to teach his Science lessons. The document camera allowed the teacher to display opaque worksheets, pictures, and stories to the whole class so that they were able to follow along. One day, my CT was talking about the life cycle of a sharks and he wanted to show the class an article from a National Geographic weekly that talked about sharks and human interactions. The document camera allowed the teacher to display the article and its pictures to the whole class at once instead of trying to talk about it while the students passed around the magazine article. By using technology in Science, the teacher was able to keep his students involved in the content instead of having students become disengaged due to worrying about where the magazine is and where it’s going.

In the school system today, technology is one of the most powerful ways to get students to learn. Technology has helped keep students engaged and focused, while still keeping them entertained when learning. It has also given instant access to information that at one time was not easy to retrieve unless they went to the library. It has provided students and teachers with unlimited amounts of of information at their fingertips, enabling students to come up with new and exciting ideas for projects. Without this being said, it is the greatest gift to teachers and their students, within all age groups. showing educators it has had a positive impact on students ' independent research skills. Even though the information is endless with technology, there are still many cons with it’s uses amongst students in the school system(Porter, Alfanzo1).

The idea of using technology in the classroom underpins my central beliefs held about teaching and learning. The use of technology should be engaging for the students and also the teacher. When I was in years 5 and 6, technology was slowly being implemented into the

In addition, I also found two interesting points in the reading by White and Stoecklin (2008), I believe will inform my teaching of science to children. First, I found intriguing White and Stoecklin’s (2008) introduction of the concepts of biophilia and biophobia. These two concepts were completely foreign ideas to me. In other words, students have an inability to find comfort or pleasure in natural environments, experiences, wonders or things unless they are exposed to nature. I recognize this issue may have a more significant influence with the use of technology to teach science. More and more, students are using the smartphones, computers, and IPads to learn science. Yet, I agree with White and Stoecklin’s idea that students need to learn sciences in natural environments. I recognize that as an educator I need to engage