Principles of Design - Bible From Ethopia

The Bible From Ethopia is filled with the principles of design. The first thing that I noticed about the Bible From Ethopia was the cover. The designer used alignment and proximity to show that the cross was the center or focus of the book. The cross is aligned in the center and positioned so nothing else touched the cross. Most of the text was black, but the red text was used to add contrast and to signify the importance of specific text. The text did not have a background but the pictures mostly have a vivid background. In contrast some text is placed in one column on the page vs two columns. And on other pages there are grids that could be used to show proximity. Birds and the cross are repeated through our the book. Borders and columns are also repeated through out the book. The vivid reds, greens, and yellows are repeated in the borders, columns, and the birds. Alignment is used to separate two different stories in one picture. The depiction of Mary has one scene aligned at the top and the second depiction aligned at the bottom. Birds are always placed at the top of the text. In the scene where the three men are shown on the cross Jesus is shown in the front and larger signifying his importance using proximity.

A Wish

Research Course Reflection

When I look back at the discussions and assignments assigned during the course, I see that the goal of the course was for us to develop quality and transferable action research. However before we could develop a wondering or create an action plan we had to learn the meaning of action research. Action research is meant to bring about change. However in our class the term changed from action research to practitioner inquiry, which changed our focus to improving practitioner practice. The concept reminds me of a book called QBQ! The Question Behind The Question, which explains that our questions should focus on what action an individual can take to bring about change based on the current context. (Miller, 2004) The first and most important change to practitioner practice is to schedule time for improvement planning. “The initial steps in the improvement process take time, patience, thought, and reflection. Rushing through these steps can produce superficial activities, characterized by all show and no substance” (Harris, Edmonson, & Combs, 2010).

The different steps that we were supposed to take should have guided us in producing practitioner research that passes all the quality indicators. We developed wonderings that were based on real world problems. We wrote discussions that caused us to articulate our context and the significance of our inquiry. We developed an action plan and identified potential challenges to implementation. We examined four strategies to maintaining improvement. We were required to our response to the questions and provide feedback to each other on the discussion board. While some of the feedback is helpful most of the peer feedback is simply just to receive the points for discussion. The only good part about the discussion board is being able to see the thinking of others on the discussion questions. I would have preferred more discussion from the Professor on the process of developing the data action plan in his videos. Feedback on the assignments would have been helpful as I attempted to complete the next assignment.

We were encouraged to reflect each week to share what we were learning and to receive feedback from our peers.Dana states that “an unshared practitioner inquiry is like a stone lying beside the pond. Unless that inquiry is tossed into the professional conversation that contributes to the knowledge base for teaching and administration, it has little chance of creating change” (2009).



Sources
Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. (p. 135). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2009). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 9 steps from analysis to action. (p. 7). Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education.

Miller, J. (2004). QBQ! The Question Behind The Question. New York, N.Y.: Putnam.

Week 3 Reflection

Developing an action research plan has been a challenge. After a lot of thought I finally settled on an action research question. I attended one of the weekly conferences on Thursday night and still felt lost. However, I did leave the web conference knowing that i was making it harder than it really was intended. So i sat down and started on the assignment Friday with the intention of submitting on Friday. However, I felt the completed assignment was lacking depth. I reviewed a few blogs that other students have completed and I feel as though I need more feedback on this action research assignment.

Action Research Plan - Draft

Our new principal understands that technology can be used to engage students and improve student performance. When he first arrived we had limited technology that was not being utilized. He allowed departments to order technology through the districts technology initiative. However many of the teachers were not utilizing the technology. I will research how I, as the Technology Facilitator, can support teachers in their use of technology resources and strategies to improve student engagement and learning. The target population is middle school teachers at RQMS in Dallas ISD. The sample will consist of one teacher from each of the 8 core teams on the campus. The sample represents teachers of all the students. By including a teacher from each team all the students will be impacted by the research.

A survey on their use of Technology will be conducted among all teachers in the school. Then the results will be compiled to determine the type of support that will best meet the needs of the Teachers. The eight teachers will be provided a survey to give their classes on the use of Technology in the class. The Teachers will be provided professional Development and ongoing support to develop lessons that incorporate technology. After a period of time the teachers will issue another survey to their students on the use of technology in the classroom. Teachers will also complete a survey about their confidence in using technology in the classroom.

Action Plan (Initial Draft)

Goal: I will research how I, as the Technology Facilitator, can support teachers in their use of technology resources and strategies to improve student engagement and learning.

Action Step(s)	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Survey all teachers in the school	Technology Facilitator will ensure all teachers complete the survey	August 18, 2010 – August 23, 2010	Computers Online survey	Once the Facilitator verifies online that all teachers have completed the survey
Compile the survey results to determine the type of support that will best meet the needs of the Teachers.	Technology Facilitator	August 30, 2010 – September 3, 2010	Survey Results Computer Excel	The Technology Facilitator has the raw data in a useable format that summaries the results
Meet with the 8 chosen teachers to review the process for the research.	Technology Facilitator	September 17, 2010	In one of the Teachers classrooms. Handouts or PDF’s Computers and Projector	The teachers have clear expectations for the research.
Survey the students of each teacher.	All 8 teachers	September 20, 2010 - September 23, 2010	Survey’s	The teacher will issue the survey to all their classes
Compile the survey results	Technology Facilitator	September 27, 2010 - October 1, 2010	Completed Surveys Computer Excel	The Technology Facilitator will compile the results in a useable format.
Develop first lesson that integrates technology.	All 8 teachers	September 27, 2010 - October 10, 2010	Strategies Technology	The Teacher completes the lesson with or without the help of the facilitator.
Observe teachers giving first lesson.	The Technology Facilitator	October 11 – 29, 2010	Rubric to evaluate use of technology and student engagement. Note Taking	The Technology Facilitator completes notes
Meet with teachers one on one as needed.	Technology Facilitator and Teachers	November	Notes from observation	The teacher leaves the meeting with new strategies if needed
Allow teacher to watch facilitator conduct lesson that integrates technology.	Technology Facilitator and Teacher	November	Strategies Technology	The teacher should have a better understanding of how technology can be integrated.
Meet with the group of teachers for feedback and to discuss concerns.	Technology Facilitator and all 8 teachers	December 6, 2010	Agreed upon protocol	Listed of needed adjustments or concerns.
Record teachers giving a lesson that integrates technology	Technology Facilitators	January 17, 2010 – February 28, 2010	Video Camera to record lesson	Video of the lesson
Survey teachers	Technology facilitators	March 7, 2010 – March 11, 2010	The 8 teachers will complete the survey	Eight completed surveys
Survey the students of each teacher.	All 8 teachers	March 7, 2010 – March 11, 2010	Survey’s	The teacher will issue the survey to all their classes
Compile Results	Technology Facilitator	March 14, 2010 – April 29, 2010	All Completed survey results Excel	The Technology Facilitator will compile the results to be presented to the principal.

Inquiry Questions

This weeks reading helped me to see that action research is not about the Superintendent finding a study completed by a group or University to be the project for the next three years. Action research is about seeking real solutions to the Real-World Dilemmas that are faced at schools everyday.

Action research requires Administrators to stop, focus and engage teachers and students to see the problem to draft an action plan. The engagement is what I think makes action research so successful. Showing an interest in a person or situation by asking questions shows people that you care.

Choosing an inquiry question is difficult when you are not in the school environment. I don't think it would have been so hard to choose an area of interest if this was not summer. However, once I started to think about problems from during the school year I was able to develop three questions quickly.

• Why do teachers not utilize the technology that is available in the school?
• How can the use of technology in the classroom be used to improve the feedback provided to students?
• How can technology be utilized to improve parental involvement?

Blogging for Leaders

Blogging is a tool that Administrators can use to reflect on practices. Reflecting on actions can cause Administrators to become more intentional in their practices. "Sharing your inquiry in the form of a blog will help you play with, develop, and challenge ideas that have developed about your administrative practice as a result of engaging in inquiry"(Dana, 2009). Blogs also provide a platform to provide findings and solutions to inquiries.