VAUGHN M. BRADLEY, JR. STORY BOARD FOR STUDY SYNC MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION

EDUC 8841: DIFFUSION AND INTEGRATION OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PROFESSOR AMAR ALMASUDE

WHAT IS STUDY SYNC Study Sync is an online product that promotes reading, writing, and critical thinking (Study Sync. 2012, para. 2). Some of the features include a digital library, online writing, and peer review, common core assignments, and assessments. Study Sync also provides a weekly writing practice (Study Sync, 2012). The web link for Study Sync is -

THE NEED FOR STUDY SYNC In today’s world, engaging students is becoming increasingly difficult. Teachers have a need to use technology that engages students without sacrificing key educational goals. Study Sync provides students with literacy skills for 21 st century learners, skills for common core learning, flexible access, and multiple ways for teachers to provide differentiated activities.

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION Study Sync is the flagship product of Book head Ed Learning, LLC, a content development company from creators Robert Romano and Jay King, along with renowned Harvard language arts educator James Moffett, of multiple award-winning EdVantage Software (Study Sync, 2012). The Company’s chief education advisor, Dr. Lawrence Baines, is Chair of the Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum department at the University of Oklahoma and a consultant to the National Council of English Teachers (“NCTE”). Experts from Harvard, UC Berkeley, MIT, and other top institutions also contribute to create a product that provides the highest level of academics through text-based lessons and collegiate-modeled collaboration (Study Sync, 2012).

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED Study Sync develops from a rich research base that draws from the most current studies in pedagogy, learning, technology, and student engagement. Study Sync is build with today’s learners in mind. The purpose of schooling, in a virtual setting is to engage students deeply in learning. Study Sync helps plant seeds of intellectual interest that will carry students into their next stages of education and work (Study Sync, 2012).

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED Research shows that students need advanced reading ability as the key to the full range of ways for knowing. The global information economy now requires greater breadth and depth of skill in making meaning from what is expected of any previous American generation (Study Sync, 2012). Tony Wagner is the co – director of The Change Leadership Group, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He conducts a study of skills that students will need in the new global economy. The study involves asking businesses, and educational leaders what skills students will need to be good citizens.

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED The responses from the professional in the multiple organizations include Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Collaboration and Leadership Agility and Adaptability Initiative and Entrepreneurialism Effective Oral and Written Communication Accessing and Analyzing Information Curiosity and Imagination (Study Sync, 2012).

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED Tony Wagner finds that most school programs only provide test preparation skills for students. His findings support other prestigious reports to suggest that students with average or greater reading ability are under prepared for the literacy demands from post – secondary work (Study Sync, 2012).

THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THE INNOVATION Several years ago, researchers Briancarosa and Snow are able to find that seventy percent of older readers require some form of remediation. The remediation needs are due to problems with comprehension, including the ability to think critically and understand ways of knowing. At the core of Study Sync is an internet technological need for instruction. The program is customized and allows students to collaborate for information integrity in a highly digitalized and connected world. The solutions help leverage students with experience and intelligence.

THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THE INNOVATION CONTINUED The solutions help advance students on a pathway to excellence. The advances sustain students through middle school, high school and college. The solutions include assessment, instruction, and integrated research – based lessons. The resources are able to provide students with levels of understanding, comprehension, and critical thinking across multiple subject areas. Students are able to interact with peers on Study Sync’s exclusive social network site (Study Sync, 2012).

THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THE INNOVATION CONTINUED Study Sync helps build student interests and prepare them for distinction and success. Study Sync engages students and helps scaffold their learning from their areas of interest to the many disciplines and areas of discourse. Study Sync supports the demands by both higher education and work – force literacy requirements (Study Sync, 2012).

COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE INNOVATION Study Sync’s electronic course room models a college – level academic discourse. Study Sync uses standards – based online learning curriculum to target classic and modern literary texts in multimodal ways using a variety of digital media including broadcast quality video, animation, audio readings, and images. Study Sync helps frame writing and thinking activities by social networking tools and collaborative discussions with peers. The innovation helps motivate middle and high school students with pre – writing exercises, writing prompts, plus opportunities for students to post their work, and review their work with others (Study Sync, 2012).

COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE INNOVATION CONTINUED Study Sync assembles a dedicated team of educators, designers, developers, and programmers that create a best in class offering for educators and students. The management team, academic advisors, and executive advisors support students with achieving their academic goals.

REFERENCE Reference StudySync. (2012). What is studysync. Retrieved from studysync/?ga-link=explore studysync/?ga-link=explore