Project Change - Data Analysis!

Okay I have a wonderful project started and will not be fully completed until summer. I started the project with a 2X2 factorial quasi-experimental design. After a meeting it was expanded to include a 2X3 factorial design with an extention. The variables include teaching method (sage on the stage and guide on the side) and assessment method (instuctionalist, constructivist with teacher feedback, and constructivist with self-regulation). The problem is the standardization of the instrument (rubric) because the participants in the constructivist groups would be allowed to revise the rubric, which means I cannot perform a 2 way ANOVA for analysis. This left me to revise the project again. The other option is to change the overall focus of the study to “self-regulation.” I am planning on changing the focus of the study to “self-regulation” and use quant methods by using a questionnaire as my instrument so the variables can be standardized. This will also lead to a further study to review the next project with same questionnaire to do multiple regressions. During the summer the plan is to also include a qualitative section to the purposal so the variables (instructivist vs. constructivist) can be compared in a detialed analysis. This would make the overall approach a mixed-methods study. The final goal is to collect and analyze the data in the fall! Until then…read, read, and read for the literature review.
Marian Maxfield

Group Project # 2

The focus the past week has been on project # 2. It seems like it is always easier the second time around. The gathering, organizaing, and planning of materials has been much easier this time. Since the focus has been on the group project, I have not done too much with the individual research project this week. Sometimes I think it is good to take a break and come back refreshed with a new perspective.
Marian

A much needed break...!

I have to say that the snow has forced me to stay inside to study this weekend. (I was looking forward to studying outside in the sun since everyone has reminded me this week that I am fair and light!)

However, it was time to take a break and enjoy the snow! So enjoy the pictures...


Then it was time for some hot chocolate and whipcream...


Okay back to the research projects. The group project is coming along and there seems to be a multitude of research and sorting through it has been interesting. The individual research project is a slow process as the term assessment seems to be foggy in the Constructivist field. Operational definitions seem to be appropriate if not needed at this point.
Marian Maxfield

F2F vs. Discussion with group collaboration...

This past week I was asked some interesting questions: "What is it about f2f collaboration that makes it good? What features should we try to reproduce online? What can online environments do that f2f ones can't?"

What characteristics make f2f good? This is a difficult quesiton. I think it stems back to the idea that body language, tone of voice, and eye contact seem to be concepts that are difficult to replicate in an online atmosphere. On the flip side of the argument online collaboration has its own “body language,” “tones,” and “voice.” For example, emoticons are one way to express a feeling. I believe that visual literacy is also very important. The types of images used in Palace are a great way for students to express who they are and what they are about, which in some ways takes the place of body language. Speaking of the Palace I also think the visual environment is something to consider. I felt more relaxed in the rooms in the Palace verses the typical white backgroud of most chatrooms. (I never thought about it before this time.) Making students visually feel comfortable in the online visual environment is something to consider when dealing with online classes.

I also believe the word collaboration is important because it is easy to either sychronously communicate one to one or asychronousely communicate with a group. It is much more difficult to communicate in a group in an online environment to make collaboration happen. It is difficult to know who is going to speak or who is really wanting to speak but is timid. From this group experience f2f was nice because we were able to organize our project then it was very esay to communicate online. Once a main goal for the group was established and then assignments (or personal goals) were set the communication online was much easier. I have personally found that online collaboration is difficult because the main goal(s) are either not formatted or there miscommunication or misunderstanding about the the definition of the goal(s).
Marian Maxfield

Research projects - Group and individual - The process

I have to say that the blog has been useful as I am completing my individual research project. It has kept me on a definitive path as well as allowing others to comment and make suggestions that I can always go back and read over. It has allowed me to stay focused and yet think beyond.

The group projects have been interesting for me. There were times when frustration set in because there seemed to be little time to get together. However, in the past week the group has pulled together and we are working very well. The most difficult obstacle was not so much having to meet but just having a set organization and everyone having the same organization in mind. We also found it to this point to be very difficult to meet using CMC. We will have to see what the next research project brings...

Marian Maxfield

Research defining variables and wanting guidance

Greetings again! I not sure in what specific direction to go at this time. I know that some of you have responded to my last post. First, I am focusing on both Constructivism and Instructivism (Behavioralism as some refer to it in the articles and books.) For the constructivist assessments there are many different forms and I believe that I will focus on the idea of a final rubric to evaluate each product and possibly the process the students are going through during the learning. Still working on the rubric configuration.
Marian Maxfield

Assessment - Meaningful learning...

The research is at a difficult stage because of this concept of assessment and how it plays into the other concept of meaningful learning. As Dr. Ingram pointed out in my last posting, there are many different measures for assessment such as product, process, and the actual learning. What is interesting as a researcher is to review the operational definitions used in the research articles. There seems to be some consensus but each theory (Constructivist and Insturctivist) have their individual ideas on measurement, which is why the design of this study allows for the differences to be researched. Knowing before I started researching this topic that each theory views assessment differently, has aided in the creation of a factoral (or matrix) research design for the many possible discoveries! The literature review drives on as I start to formulate the operational definitions for each of these concepts!
Marian Maxfield

PS Thank you Jason for e-mailing me an article about online assessment. I really appreciated it!