6.1 Continuous Learning
Candidates demonstrate continual growth in knowledge and skills of current and emerging technologies and apply them to improve personal productivity and professional practice.
Artifact: Effectiveness of Online Learning: A Literature Review
Reflection:
In ITEC 7470, Educational Research, the main focus of the course was developing a better understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, interpreting that research, and then applying what we've learned into classroom instruction. This was accomplished through reading educational research, learning how to critically analyze the article, and evaluate the research that was found in those articles. We were able to choose any current topic that was related to instructional technology in our schools. I discussed this with my facilatator and chose professional online learning to research since our district currently offers online courses to students and want to start offering online courses to our teachers.This topic also correlates with my capstone project, the creation and implementation of an online professional learning course for educators. My research included a review of fifteen published journal articles on the topic of the effectiveness of online learning. This review was conducted to answer three research questions: (a) What does the literature say about online learning for professional development of teachers, (b) is online learning more effective than blended or face to face instruction for teacher professional development, and (c) what are the essential components needed for effective online instruction and learning of teachers?
This artifact demonstrates mastery of the 6.1 standard because researching a new emerging technology is part of my continual growth to improve personal productivity and my professional practice. An online learning course for educators will also improve their professional practice. I enjoyed learning how to review and analyze the validity and quality of the research articles that we completed within the course. This was especially helpful when evaluating and analyzing the research for my mini literature review. I also learned how to search for and identify relevant articles to my topic, the correct organization for a well-written review, and how to evaluate different kinds of research. Finding the answers to my research questions helped me to develop an effective online course for my teachers. After completing this review, next time I would like to research different learning management systems to determine which ones offer the best design for online learning. Professional development, school improvement, and student learning can all be impacted by effective online learning development. The impact of this learning can be assessed through feedback from teacher evaluations, as well as input from administrators, students, parents, and community members.
In ITEC 7470, Educational Research, the main focus of the course was developing a better understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, interpreting that research, and then applying what we've learned into classroom instruction. This was accomplished through reading educational research, learning how to critically analyze the article, and evaluate the research that was found in those articles. We were able to choose any current topic that was related to instructional technology in our schools. I discussed this with my facilatator and chose professional online learning to research since our district currently offers online courses to students and want to start offering online courses to our teachers.This topic also correlates with my capstone project, the creation and implementation of an online professional learning course for educators. My research included a review of fifteen published journal articles on the topic of the effectiveness of online learning. This review was conducted to answer three research questions: (a) What does the literature say about online learning for professional development of teachers, (b) is online learning more effective than blended or face to face instruction for teacher professional development, and (c) what are the essential components needed for effective online instruction and learning of teachers?
This artifact demonstrates mastery of the 6.1 standard because researching a new emerging technology is part of my continual growth to improve personal productivity and my professional practice. An online learning course for educators will also improve their professional practice. I enjoyed learning how to review and analyze the validity and quality of the research articles that we completed within the course. This was especially helpful when evaluating and analyzing the research for my mini literature review. I also learned how to search for and identify relevant articles to my topic, the correct organization for a well-written review, and how to evaluate different kinds of research. Finding the answers to my research questions helped me to develop an effective online course for my teachers. After completing this review, next time I would like to research different learning management systems to determine which ones offer the best design for online learning. Professional development, school improvement, and student learning can all be impacted by effective online learning development. The impact of this learning can be assessed through feedback from teacher evaluations, as well as input from administrators, students, parents, and community members.