Using Technology to Increase Communication Dusty Carroll CHEM 502 Proposal (Summer, 2004)

Education  Trenton State College  BS in Chemistry  Beaver College  Some Graduate Education classes  Rutgers University  Some Graduate Chemistry classes  State of NJ  Standard Teachers Certificate (alt. route)

Teaching Experience  Cherry Hill West High School  Teacher, 5 years  Earth Science, Chemistry ALL levels  Curriculum Committees  Conceptual Physical Science (9 th grade)  Conceptual Chemistry (11 th grade)  K-12 Science Curriculum Committee  Girls Track Coach, 7 years

Related Experience  Partners in Science Research Grant  2 summers at Rutgers University doing organofluorine chemistry research  NJ Performance Assessment Alliance  Develop performance based tasks to be included in future HSPA, GEPA, and NJASK

New School: Seneca HS  Tabernacle, NJ (the edge of civilization)  The 4 th (5 th ) high school in the Lenape Regional High School District  ~7200 students, grades 9-12  Opened 2003 with full 9 th and 10 th grade and ~ th graders  Hybrid mix of teachers from around the Lenape District

Facilities (science rooms)  8-11 computers per room  Mounted projector and screen with computer plug in at teacher desk  Long lab-type tables arranged in center of room for regular class time  Lab stations on each side of room  SMALL  fume hood in each room

Focus and Rationale  Technology a constant fight at my old school  Technology (computers) readily available and strongly encouraged in new school  Need to find an educationally sound use for the available computers

Educationally Sound Ideas  Increase use of technology by students while in classroom or at home  Increase use of technology in teacher presentation of lessons  Use my new found skill of web page maintenance

Technology used in past  Word  lab reports, papers, other writing assignments  Excel  tables,charts and graphs (inside lab reports)  PowerPoint  Optional for projects and mini presentations  Internet  communication and assignments  Optional medium for project presentations  Research

Decision  It would be difficult to add more student use of technology without changing the name of the course  It would be hard to assess the success of my own use of technology as a teaching tool  The webpage idea wins

Problems to be Addressed  Grade Awareness (students and parents)  has been useful  Late submission of assignments  I don’t allow the “my printer broke” excuse  Absent students get very behind  Always looking for a solution  PAPER…PAPER…PAPER

Goals of the Project  Use class webpage as a communication tool for students / parents  Worksheets / assignments posted for absent students (and others!)  Grades posted using student ID on a weekly? basis  Ongoing projects, assignments and rubrics posted for student reference

Goals, cont’d  Increase student accountability  Reduce late work by reducing the “I lost it” excuse  Decrease lag time for make-up work from absences  Increase timely return of assignments by allowing submission to account (as link on webpage)

Goals, cont’d  Decrease tree-killing while easing teacher workload  Reduce need for handing out multiple copies of assignments, worksheets, and rubrics  Allow grading of some assignments without a hard copy  Keep higher percentage of students up with the class, regardless of absence

Assessment of Success  Survey of students  Informal survey of parents (keep log)  Track usage of webpage  Track late-work  Teacher subjective evaluation