Action Research

1. Statement of Problem

Teachers are unsure about how to best integrate technology into the curriculum. Especially in the primary grades, teachers are unsure of their own skills and hesitate to utilize technology. Rather than using technology to teach the curriculum, they want to use the curriculum to teach technology. We believe that if a (3r grade) teacher has access to ideas to use both together, then the use of technology will increase. Taking one tool and showing a teacher how to use it across the curriculum will allow a teacher to have a goal in mind, rather than the arbitrary going to the computer lab today.

2. Area of Focus Statement

The purpose of our study is to give teachers the tools to increase the use of technology in order to enhance the curriculum.

3. Variables

Do teachers have computers in their home? Internet?

Are computers available in their classroom?

Does the school have Internet access?

Prior knowledge

Collegial relationships (positive)

Program/publisher differences

Different districts

Varied school environments

Level of interest
Reliability of hardware

4. Research Questions

What support is necessary to integrate web-based teaching into the third grade curriculum?

What is the effectiveness of web-based activities?

How can web based activities address the content standards?

How can Technology address Standards?

How to most effectively deliver staff development?

5. Intervention and Innovation

An accessible web site that is teacher friendly and easy to use by the novice user.

The tech tool will be used to provide staff development and deliver curricular instruction.

Staff development will provide the teachers the knowledge of hardware, and software and to use our tool effectively in their classroom.

Staff development provided by:

One-on-one meetings; cooperative groups; and all research participants involved in a collaborative group

A roving substitute teacher assigned to the third grade to enable the teachers to explore and plan.

6. Action Research Group

All third grade teachers at Joyce elementary, Del Paso Manor elementary, Loomis Grammar elementary, Pine Grove elementary.

7. Negotiations

Permission from teachers

We are in control

Notify- Principal of our action project of who and what and the computer tech.

Notify and get cooperation from- third grade teachers, principal, computer tech.

Maintain communication between researchers.

8. Time Line

0-1 mos.	Permission from teachers to participate Notify administration regarding intent to participate Survey teachers Grade level support meetings
1- 2 mos.	Modeling technology use and classroom management Staff development Grade level support meetings
2- 8 mos.	Implementation of technology Peer coaching Staff Development Grade level support meetings Availability of resources
8- 9 mos	Follow-up survey Self Reflection and Evaluation Staff Development Grade level support meetings Revision

9. Resources

	Researcher	Participant
Time	o Release time	o Access time to preview
	o Collaboration time with fellow researchers and participants	o Collaboration time between participants
	o Preparation time	o Preparation time to coordinate lesson plans


Money	o Substitutes	o Substitutes
	o Hardware	o Virtual stipend
	o Software


Materials	o Hardware	o Hardware
	o Software	o Software
	o Internet	o Internet
	o	o

Researcher