Week 2: Purpose/Problem Statements
EDUC-6653I-2 Introduction to Educational Research
Instructor: Kathryn Arnold
I plan to determine if elementary students writing abilities and motivation would increase if they were allowed to use word processor instead of pencil and paper application?
Who: elementary students
What: use word processors
Why: have higher writing abilities and motivation
Posts
Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteBeing a special needs teacher and working with students who have major written language issues, I personally believe that utilizing the computer not only enhances students written language skills but their communication and reading skills also. My students tend to spell phonically; therefore the spell check alone is advantageous.
I think that the research that you will find will be very interesting. How will you be measuring your students’ writing ability and motivation? For motivation, observation could be one avenue for evaluation but I am not sure how valid it would be or maybe you can find research results where a teacher provided a student pretest and than a posttest asking questions that address how students personally felt about participating in the activities using technology tools. Good Luck on your research!
Kristin
Dawn,
ReplyDeleteI think that what you have written as your problem statement is a interesting one. I agree with Kristin about using the spell checker and the grammar check as well will help with their spelling and grammar. I know with my seventh graders there are many students who problems with spelling. Some even spell like they text. I feel that to use technology for their writing would make the students feel more comfortable in composing. I think that the research you will find will help you find new ideas on how to evaluate the students in this way.
Hi Dawn,
ReplyDeleteI like this problem statement. It is short, to the point, and conclusive. I have notice huge differences in writing with paper and computer. It will be nice to see conclusive evidence that computers greatly improve our students' writing.
Good luck here, let mw know if I can be of assistance in any way.
Dawn, I think that this is a good topic for research. What age students will you be working with? At what age, do you believe, would be the earliest age to start working with on this topic, as I would worry that if you start too young, the students will have very little word processing skills.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for all your input: Kristin & Amy I actually had the spell checker and grammar on my originally problem statement but Professor Arnold suggested to focus my statement. I'm sure that the word processor tools will play into my research. I do plan on a pre and post test. I was thinking of focusing on word count, number of sentences, and reading ease for my assessment.
ReplyDeletePaul thanks for the positive reassurance it really helps since I'm still a bit nervous about this course.
Melissa: My plan is to try it with my 3rd grade students but after we do 2 quarter worth of keyboarding practice. I'm actually amazed at how capable they are at keyboarding once they enter my class. I also want to follow my student and see if they continue to make progress in the upper grades.
Once again folks for the response to my blog it really helps.
Dawn