NAEP Results

This activity asked us to conduct descriptive data analysis and t tests within an excel spreadsheet. We were to obtain data on the state of West Virginia and compare to the rest of the states. This was all documented through (NAEP) National Assessment of Educational Progress and (NCES) The National Center for Education Statistics. Here is where you can go to locate any of the subject areas and grade that you would like to view and examine. Once I selected the criteria of 8th grade, Mathematics, and gender the excel spreadsheet appeared. From there I uploaded it to excel so I could work with the data. I had some difficulty with sorting my information but I ended up deleting all the N/A's and the National Public data. Once those were gone I was able to get to work. I realized that I had to highlight all the information to obtain where exactly WV feel in rank.  I was also able to scroll down the student's overall score to determine the average of 283.

The next steps were to conduct the t test of male vs. female scores to see if there was a significant difference in test scores. Here is my findings and data work to show that boys were not smarter than girls. There was not a significant difference. I do feel more confident in my reporting and paper. I am still not 100% sure if I correctly designed the chart and table in proper APA format. I do think that it is better than the first time around.

This activity corresponds with standard #5: Participate in Professional Growth and Leadership. This is where educators can dive into data and statistics to help students improve their learning through technology. By examining this information; teachers, administration, parents and students can collaborate together to determine strengths and weaknesses in the classroom. Once these weaknesses have been specified then focus and improvement can be made on them. This needs to be done on a regular basis to ensure growth and success academically.

Save a YouTube Video to My Computer

I looked at this activity in two different ways. The first way I thought to address this was to create a Google Doc that contained the YouTube video that I wanted to select. I am a huge basketball fan, played in high school, and could have continued in college but chose not to. I remember when I was on the middle school basketball team and having a WVWC player help me with my shot. I learned a tremendous amount from her. One of the teaching tips that really stuck with me was the BEEF shooting method. Here is my Google doc where you can learn the BEEF method.

I then started to read more into our directions and thought that maybe I should have figured out a way to actually save it to my computer. So to begin this process I logged into my YouTube account and located the BEEF-4 video. I located it but could not see the Real Player tab on the top right hand corner of the video to upload it. I finally realized that I was in Chrome and switched to Internet Explorer. I re-logged in to my YouTube account and re-located my video. I was able to see my little blue tab to upload my video to real player. Once I had that uploaded I then converted it to a WMV file and there was an option of where to save it. I selected to save it as a video to my computer.

Now came the really tricky part figuring out how to post it. It only made sense to me to upload it back to YouTube. Here is the new link for the video that I uploaded back to YouTube. I also changed the title to "BEEF it's not what's for dinner but how to Shoot a Basketball!

This activity would best link with Standard # 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. In my collaborative Reading class we are researching Charles Dickens. This would be a great tool for students to explore and find information that would help define who he is and what he accomplished. The could then save it , store it, bring it to class and present it. The student would have high interest due to being on YouTube and searching for videos. Not only would the be using technology appropriately but they would be learning about the author in the process. This would be a great way for them to interpret their meaning of who Charles Dickens is and what they were able to conclude about him.

Sign Up for YouTube

First step in signing up for You Tube is that you need to go here! In the top right hand corner is where you will see the words "sign up". Click on that and it will bring you to a page for you to create your username, password, and additional information. Then at the bottom is where you click "sign up." You will then receive an email saying Welcome to your You Tube account.

Here is a wonderful video showing you how to sign up for a You Tube Account. Sometimes for the visual learners (such as myself) this is more beneficial. 

This would best match with Standard # 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning.  By being able to demonstrate how to access and create a YouTube account is a good way to show how current and up to date an Educator is. Not only by just telling or informing the students this is a great way to actually show them how to do it. YouTube is a sticky subject at my current school but if used appropriately it can be a great teaching tool. YouTube could be a great way to communicate with parents needing help with their child's homework, give students extra examples to aid them in their work, and a great addition to any lesson. 

APA Action Research Report

Here is the Action Research Report that I created with the incorporation of an Excel spreadsheet. I originally did this document in Word and then uploaded it to Google Docs. This version incorrectly shows my running header and does not show any tables that I created. The tables are important in that they show the T Tests and Descriptive Stats that I did. I was able to save my tables as pictures and then inserted them into my Google doc.

This assignment was stressful. I felt confident in the Abstract, Methodology, and showing my work in excel. The parts that I seemed to focus on the most was the interpretation of the data and correctly putting that data in APA format. I am not 100% confident that I did my tables correctly. I have never had to do tables in APA format before. I do understanding my findings and those results. I do understand that if there were any P results < 0.05 then they would be considered significant but none of my results reflected this. My hypothesis were incorrect and there is no significant correlation.

This excel project this best matches up with standard #5. This is true professional growth at its finest. This activity incorporates technology tools, student data, self-reflection, and self-growth. This activity also helps to promote student learning and possible change in teaching strategies to better meet the students individual needs. This activity can be continuous and ever changing. This is where professional growth takes place. This tool is great to share with other teachers and administration to help achieve success not just in the classroom but school wide as well.