Halton/Bridges Research ProjectKurzweil Professional Development
Anne Hill - [email protected] Thorpe - [email protected]
Agenda
• Process of Doing Research - Invaluable –
• Introduction to the Project by Marian Thorpe: Halton Coordinator of Special Education
• Brief Overview of Research Findings to date
• Sharing from Stacey’s Class –data on student learning & teaching/learning strategies
Research Project Title
Do comprehensive models of professional development for teachers, educational assistants, parents & students help improve comfort with & use of assistive technology?
Does using Kurzweil help improve student reading comprehension ?
History
• HDSB agreed to participate in research as it fit with our own mandate to improve PD
• Extensively invested in AT and realized need to develop effective PD for staff, students and parents
Current Situation
• Many competing demands on teachers - changes in curriculum, focus on improving provincial scores, more record keeping
• Overall buy-in to use AT – where we really see the difference AT can make is where the teacher leaders embrace
Specific Research Measurements• Due to small response rates
Unable to do formal statistical analyses therefore we will provide descriptive analyses
• Comfort and Use Survey
Some mean scores show an improvement over time
Other measures pre- and post- data is almost identical, whereas mid scores tend to decrease – interesting to hypothesize reasons
Overall feeling of knowledge of specific resources
Self – report: written and interview data descriptive summary
1. Many challenges outlined – 1. Most frequent was more PD needed for teachers, EA’s
and families & Time 2. Speed of setting up systems and tech support issues
2. Many positive comments about PD received3. Many Suggestions – Implemented
1. Evening training2. Bridges provided Memory Sticks with “How To”
Posters & Videos – On-Line Collaboration- Knowledge Forum Database
On - Line Collaboration
Self Evaluation Tools• Kurzweil Usage Log
• Self evaluation rubrics
MAZE Assessments – AIMS Web Passages: Improvement over time
Kurzweil in the Classroom: Stacey and the Tech Dudes
Further Research?• Research issues/questions you would like to
see addressed?• Attend Dr. Karen Erickson’s Session on Action
Research! Saturday: May 15- 8:30 am – 11:00
Creation TapestryJudy Chicago