Joy+Winterhalder

Joy Winterhalder

Rogers (2003) talked about the elements of diffusion of innovations as it pertained to communication through channels. My interest in research is how innovations can be widespread among educators focusing on technology tools in the classroom. This would include tools such as WebQuests to improve higher-order thinking skills. In my school only a handful of teachers take advantage of all the technology opportunities for students. I would like to find out how we can diffuse Web 2.0 tools as part of the curriculum for all educators. Especially since the future of our students will include technology in all aspects of their lives.
 * Research Interests:**

As we all know, there are many theoretical frameworks that could be described for innovating technology in education. These would include behaviorism, cognitivist, constructivism, engagement, situated cognition, and distributed learning. Dewey (1997 ) wrote about constructivism referring to learners constructing knowledge for themselves, constructing meaning based on how the student learns. The teacher would therefore be the facilitator. This theory was also supported by Piaget and Vigotsy as well as others. Ostashewski et al. (2011) showed that on-line learning grounded in constructionist theory was successful. . I think my research will be based upon the constructivist theory.
 * Theoretical Foundations:**

References: Dewey J. (1997). //Experience and Education//. Simon & Shuster. NY, New York. Ostashewski, N., Moisey, S., & Reid, D. (2011). Applying Constructionist Principles to Online Teacher Professional Development. //International Review Of Research In Open And Distance Learning, 12(6),// 143-156. Rogers, E. M. (2003). //Diffusion of innovation//. (5th ed.). New York, NY: Free Press.

My broad topic is implementing Web 2.0 into teachers lesson planning. The five areas for my literature review would include: The best path to integrate Web 2.0 becomes important to know how to integrate it into the curriculum. As all of us are aware, the internet has become explosive over the past ten years. This makes this topic important to understand what’s out there that either works or does not work. Broadening the conceptualizations of the classroom allows for hybrid learning. Hybrid learning spaces allow for both physical and cyberspace travel for learners. This conceptualization should approach the literature that provides the best use of Web 2.0 technologies beyond the classroom. Transforming studentship using Web 2.0 would include how students learn the usage of Web 2.0 both in and outside of the school. Some examples would include blogging, Wikispaces, and Edmodo. Technology competencies would include such areas as technology proficiencies, standards, capacity for innovation, collaboration, and project oriented teams. Currently in my school we use Study Island and Blue Ribbon for technology competencies. Research directions would be obvious to find literature that is current to show where technology is heading. Especially with the use of technology in the classroom.
 * Literature Review **
 * 1) The best path to integrate Web 2.0 into the curriculum
 * 2) Broadening the conceptualizations of the classroom
 * 3) Transforming studentship using Web 2.0
 * 4) Technology competencies, and
 * 5) Research directions

In the five research reviews that I have done, I have found the following research questions: There are many ways that technology enhanced learning can be viewed. Technology savvy students may have an advantage of the use of technology in their learning environment. The community needs to be a major force to promote the redesigning of educational technology in the classroom. There is an overall interest in collaborating with peers. The collaboration varies with both age and gender where collaboration increased with age. Students generally had no trouble adapting to the rules and requirements of scripted collaborative tasks. The framework for professional development should focus on technology in the classroom. The theories of these studies were based on sociological, pedagogic and a dialectic approach. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">References used Fischer, G., & Konomi, S. S. (2007). Innovative socio-technical environments in support of distributed intelligence and lifelong learning. //Journal Of Computer Assisted Learning//, //23//(4), 338-350. Haake, J. M., & Pfister, H. (2010). Scripting a distance-learning university course: Do students benefit from net-based scripted collaboration?. //International Journal Of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning//, //5//(2), 191-210. doi:10.1007/s11412- 010-9083- Meletiou <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Cambria Math','serif';">‐ Mavrotheris, M., Mavrotheris, E., & Paparistodemou, E. (2011). Distance learning for teacher professional development in statistics education. //Teaching Statistics//, //33//(1), 2-8. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9639.2010.00425.x Poellhuber, B., & Anderson, T. (2011). Distance students' readiness for social media and collaboration. //International Review Of Research In Open And Distance Learning//, //12//(6), 102-125. Wasson, B. (2007). Design and use of collaborative network learning scenarios: The DoCTA experience. //Educational Technology & Society//, //10//(4), 3-16.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Research Questions: **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">How do we establish the adoption of various Web 2.0 tools into the classrooms across the board?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Which of the Web 2.0 tools are most effective in the middle-school classroom?
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">What technology tools are most effective for reaching higher-order-thinking skills in the curriculum?

The gap that exists is the ability to implement various Web 2.0 tools into the class curriculum. Many teachers do not use technology in their curriculum in my middle school. Our school has much availability to technology usage.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gap **


 * Methodology**


 * **Research Questions** || **Methodology** || **Sample** || **Data Collection** ||
 * # <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">How do we establish the adoption of various Web 2.0 tools into the classrooms across the board? || Qualitative case study || Middle School Grades 6-8 || * Questionnaires
 * Observations of student work
 * Teacher interviews. ||
 * # <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Which of the Web 2.0 tools are most effective in the middle-school classroom? || Qualitative case study. || Middle School Grades 6-8 || * Questionnaires
 * Observations of student work
 * Teacher interviews. ||
 * # <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">What technology tools are most effective for reaching higher-order-thinking skills in the curriculum? || Qualitative case study. || Middle School Grades 6-8 || * Questionnaires
 * Observations of student work
 * Teacher interviews. ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Filling the gap in current research will require a study that understands why the gap exists in the first place. The gap for my research is the various technologies that are currently implemented or not implemented by classroom teachers, and why or why not? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">My research will advance educational technology by finding ways that teachers can successfully implement various Web 2.0 tools into the curriculum such as WebQuests. The students need a diversity of learning tools to meet their various learning styles. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">To promote worth, dignity and development of individuals, communities, organizations, and the various cultures in our schools, the implementation of technology use in the classroom would enhance various learning styles. I need to find out what would work best for the different teaching styles of the classroom teachers and find out why or why not they are using technology in their curriculum. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Three journals to which I would like to submit an article: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Two Professional Conferences to attend:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Significance of the study **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Dissemination of Research **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) – This journal focuses on topics relating to the instructional design of technology in K-12 education.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Journal of Applied Educational Technology – This journal deals with a K-20 environment. The professionals who view this journal include administrators and teachers. This journal also focuses on classroom uses for technology.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Journal of Effective Teaching – This journal addresses content area. It also addresses innovations in learning and the experiences of classroom teaching.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I am not quite familiar with all the conferences. I however would like to attend one at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. The reason for this is that is the association connected to my first journal listed above. I would also consider TIES as their mission “ties” in with cooperative learning of educational leaders to promote student learning through technology education. <span style="color: #006666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10px;">: