INQUIRY PROJECT

 

Name: _________________________________________________

 

Good teachers are frequently engaged in thinking about their practice and trying out new strategies to see what works. (The opposite of this is where a person’s teaching is based on habit or tradition - “this is the way it’s always been done.”) This process of experimentation may be difficult for an outsider to observe and few teachers would probably ever see themselves as engaged in “research.” However, effective teaching requires that teachers reflect on their teaching and seek to find out answers as to what works and what does not.

 

You are to conduct a small-scale inquiry project related to the improvement of your instruction.  In consultation with your partner teacher, identify an issue or question related to your teaching.  In many cases it may be beneficial to select a question that directly relates to an area of instruction that needs improvement (e.g. if the target area for improvement of teaching is “to improve lesson closure,” then the inquiry project could be an investigation of the effects of different approaches to closure on student performance. Other examples of questions include: the advantages or disadvantages of using student selected groups vs. teacher selected groups, analysis of specific strategies for working with unmotivated learners, the value of different note-taking strategies etc.

 

DEFINE THE CLASSROOM OR TEACHER PROBLEM.

(Statement of the specific issue to be investigated)

 

            I believe that the problem that I am having some difficulty with is note taking.  Most students are on task while others are not (reading books, magazines or talking).  I believe that I will investigate the various types of note taking strategies such as using an overhead vs. using notes through the use of Power Point presentation.

 

 

 

DESCRIBE THE ISSUE.  (General statement of why the issue is of importance or of interest)

 

            I believe that this issue is of particular importance because this is the basis of learning.  The students get introduced to the content knowledge and must know the knowledge before getting introduced to a lab or hands-on activity.  This issue is important because the students must understand the notes first and foremost before they begin with hands-on activities.   

 

 

 

WHAT ARE MY QUESTIONS? (List the key questions related to investigation of your problem)

                                               

·         During the note taking, how are the students responding?

·         During the note taking, how is the eye contact with the students?

·         After the note taking, are the students working on their worksheets with great understanding or confusion?

·         How are the test scores comparing using overhead vs. Power Point?

WHAT OBSERVABLE BEHAVIORS WILL BE CONSIDERED?

(What information do you need to be able to know whether or not it works? Be as specific as you can about the data you will collect.  This needs to be student outcome related.)

 

            One data variable that I will collect is test scores.  After spring break, I will begin using their test scores and comparing them to the previous test scores that I used with different note taking methods.    I will also do informal assessment of the understanding of the notes after the various note taking methods.  I will assess the body language of my students that they give me before the note taking, during the note taking, and after the note taking.  I will also collect information on the number of questions the students have after the note taking.

 

 

 

WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE REQUIRED to determine?  (How will I know it works?)

 

            I will know that a particular note taking method is preferred over another through the use of test scores and informal assessment.  If there is an improvement in test scores, I know that a particular note taking technique worked better than another.  I will also assess the students understanding through worksheets and labs so I will know how a student applies the notes that they have taken.  This will be assessed through the number of questions the students have about the notes they have taken.  This data will be assessed along with circulation observations and other informal assessments.  I will take each day into consideration through the use of various types of assessment.  I will count each student that has their head down and every question that is asked while they are doing their practice.

 

 

 

WHO WILL YOU CONSULT AS EXPERTS OR SOURCES OF INFORMATION?

(Resources/People to contact for help)

 

            Melinda Keill- partnership teacher

            Lauren Fowler- partnership teacher

            Sherrie Anderson- EC coordinator

 

 

 

WHAT METHODS WILL YOU EMPLOY TO COLLECT THE DESIRED INFORMATION? 

(Ex. interviewing a teacher, students’ tests scores)

 

            I will interview my partnership teacher for her opinion on the note taking and also evaluate test scores.  I will also perform informal assessments to evaluate the collected data.  I will also select a few students and interview them on a one-on-one basis.  Each day I will collect data on the number of students that have their heads down, the questions being asked and the number of on-task students.  This along with comparing test scores will provide me with enough information and data to make my conclusions.

 

 

 

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE YOUR PRELIMINARY FINDINGS?  (Make a prediction!)

 

            I believe that most students will like the Power Point method of giving notes when it is kept short and sweet.  I also believe that the students will get more out of this method also.  I also believe that students prefer working with technology such as Power Point.  I believe that the test scores will improve working with Power Point compared to the notes on the overhead.