Research
Summary
The Question
What happens when students become leaders
in a movement to make technology usage more ubiquitous
and user-friendly for a school community?
My question asked what social dynamics and academic
behaviors would be displayed as a group of students
undertook a research study that might benefit their
fellow learners. I further wanted to know what evidence
would there be of student growth as learners and
investigators as a result of participating in this
project and what negative consequences may occur
as the result of these efforts? Extended day programs
are in great jeopardy of being eliminated in our
school system. There is no money in the projected
budget for programs such as the one in this study.
Adults, both local and statewide, are skeptical
about the ability of middle school students to effectively
participate in authentic learning activities as
outlined in this study.
Tools
- Emails – intended to provide students with communication
opportunities for contemporaneous feedback and
personal journaling
- Observation checklists
– intended to record behaviors, engagement in
the activities, and comments from individual activities
- On-line surveys – intended to get honest self-reporting
feedback from students on their engagement and
accomplishment of self-selected tasks
- Attendance collection – intended to measure
student attendance against school-wide averages
- Progress reports and report cards – intended
to measure student achievement and behaviors as
reported by teacher observations
- Journaling – intended to record my own responses
and reactions to daily interactions and activities
Data Analysis and Findings
The students undertook an effort to make
school administrators and politicians aware of the
digital divide in school communities in Chicago.
They surveyed parents and other students and tapped
into a city-wide study of access to the Internet,
especially as it impacts the Hispanic community.
As they worked through the process, students grew
in the type, quality, and quantity of their writings
in their email messages. Female students were more
likely to be engaged in activities in class that
were educational in nature, while males were more
engaged in game playing. They expressed great satisfaction
in their participation in this enrichment program
and had higher attendance rates than their peers
both in other extended day programs and during the
school year. Their grades were better on the whole
and their Iowa test scores in reading and mathematics
were better than those of the school at large. The
group averaged a 5.8 percentile gain in reading
and 3 percentile points gained in mathematics over
their previous year’s scores, while the school’s
overall scores were down slightly in both measures.
They met with key legislators in the state capitol
at a state-wide technology exhibit. As evidenced
by the comments in the guest book, their brochures,
newsletters, and the level of sophistication of
everyone who met with them remarked on their presentation.
Students in the middle grades can effectively participate
in engaged learning activities that impact their
school community. Programs that provide students
with these opportunities should be encouraged and
funded. These students have demonstrated that they
are capable of being effective lobbyists for causes
that concern them and these opportunities should
be provided to others, as well. Educators should
also be assisted in developing authentic learning
opportunities since this type of learning activity
can also improve the students’ sense of self-worth
and social responsibility.
The students have decided to tackle the Chicago
Public Library system next year. Unlike national
trends, their findings indicated that students heavily
use the library system when they do not have Internet
connectivity at home. Yet, the library is closed
when the students are available to use its facilities.
The library is closed on Sunday, in the evenings,
and on school holidays. The students intend to share
their findings with the library board and the local
politicians to see if they can impact local library
policies to benefit the students of Chicago. Programs
like this need adult leadership that is committed
to allowing students to lead and help direct authentic
learning activities and supported by open-minded
administrators.
Policy Implications and Recommendations
- Teachers need to be encouraged to guide students
in engaged learning activities since the research
indicates that students demonstrate improved academic
achievement, social awareness, and sense of self-worth
when engaged in activities that are meaningful
to them.
- Students need to be provided with enrichment
opportunities since research indicates they have
demonstrated exceptional growth as learners.
- Policy makers need to recognize that there is
a demonstrable digital divide between Hispanics
and other ethnic groups, and those gaps should
be addressed in this technologically intensive
society.
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