Why engage Master's students in field research?
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Media specialists in training must learn to measure their effect on learning.
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To provide the training and tools to develop, document, and effectively disseminate local successes.
Contents:
Course description
Assignment
Evaluation Rubric
Research Outline
Fall 2009 Research titles
Research reports
Student Reflections
Course: LME 519 Special Topics in Educational Technology
Text books:
Harada, V. H. (2005). Assessing learning: Librarians and teachers as partners. Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited.
Leedy, P. D. (2009). Practical research: Planning and design (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Merrill Prentice Hall. Including My Education Lab
Context: One semester, 3 credits. Support for the course includes a systematic research-writing guide, a variety of power points and documents. Students complete the course in one semester.
Student background:
- Most students conduct their field research in 2 to 3 weeks.
- Students take this course during their first 9 hours of course work.
- This is their first experience with formal research. Entry-level expectations for many are that they will be doing a literature review type paper.
- Most have no previous experience with APA formatting.
- Data analysis skills are minimal. Few have experience with statistics.
Assignment:
Depending on your focus (LME or Educational Technology) in the LME program, you should choose a research topic below:
Library Media Education Focus
- · Increase book circulation in the library
- · Increase teacher and media specialist collaboration on curricular projects
- · Increase utilization of information resources in the media center by increasing research skills in P-12 pupils
- · Increase utilization of library resources by diverse students
- · Increase student achievement through media center / teacher collaborative activities
Educational Technology Focus
- · Increase integration of productivity applications (databases, spreadsheets, desktop publishing, presentation software) in the P-12 curriculum
- · Increase the integration of multimedia (video or audio editing, website development) in the curriculum
- · Increase utilization of technology resources by diverse students
- · Increase teacher and educational technology specialist collaboration on curricular projects
Evaluation Rubric
Research Outline
Title Page
Abstract (complete as the last part)
I. Introduction
A. Background Information
B. Statement of the problem
C. Research question(s) and hypotheses
D. Definition of terms
E. Delimitations of study
II. Literature review
III. Methodology
A. Subjects
B. Instrumentation
C. Research design
D. Procedures
IV. Results and Findings
A. Data collected
B. Analysis of data
V. Conclusions, recommendations, and social action
A. Conclusions
B. Recommendations for further study
C. Social Action
Fall 2009 Research titles
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The effect of book talks on the circulation of materials in an elementary library media center.
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Teacher and media specialist collaboration on Romeo and Juliet to increase students’ posttest scores.
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Evaluation of software use to provide authentic learning opportunities for students with disabilities.
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Effect on elementary student views on diversity through the use of the International Children’s Digital Library in the classroom and library
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Collaboration between classroom teacher and Library Media Specialist to influence phonics and phonemic awareness skills in Kindergarten students
· Parental Reading Activity and the Reading Activity of Children from Low-Income Environments
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Effect of a school-wide read-at-home initiative on circulation in a middle school library media center.
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Increasing the use of library media information sources by middle school students.
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School-wide campaign promoting favorite library books to increase circulation improve students’ reading habits.
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The use of classroom content centers in the media center to increase circulation
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Affecting teachers presentation of lessons and the student success through increasing collaboration with the LMS
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Using wiki pages to impact student performance on science assessments
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Students’ Use of LibraryThing to Increase Motivation to Finish Books
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The Effects of an Elementary School Campaign to Promote Reading for Pleasure
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Motivating Female Students to Read Science Books to Increase Interest and Scores
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Increasing Learning by Using Technology
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Effects of Library Media Specialist and Teacher Collaboration on Academic Achievement
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Increasing student reading interests through the implementation of individual student / teacher conferencing
· Advertising the Collection to Increase Circulation
· Collaboration Between LMS and Intermediate Teachers for a Fourth and Fifth Grade Battle of the Books Competition
Research Papers (students have given permission to include their papers here)
Student Reflections
Through my research, I learned that students like to have a part in
choosing how to learn the material. We all like to do things that we
enjoy, and allowing students to be partners in the decision-making
process helps them to become more engaged which increases their
knowledge. This is true in all subject areas; therefore, I have applied
this to my reading, social studies, and math classes for all my junior
I would like to say that the 519 class was such a help for me in
understanding what true research really is. As a student in high school
and college, I was taught that a "research paper" was information
seeking on a particular subject. I have found from the research methods
class that research is a process and an action, not simply seeking
information. I have passed this knowledge on to my own middle school
students so that they will understand this also before they go into
high school and college.
