Numbers 1.6

Researchers and data analysts test data points to ascertain statistical significance in order to prove or disprove a hypothesis. T-Tests are a way to evaluate large data sets and determine the significance of the numbers. In 2011, the NAEP recorded the reading scores and categorized them based on student reported race. Classifying the reading scores generates two hypotheses:

H1    There is a statically significant difference between the NAEP mean scores of Black and Hispanic students on the 4th grade reading assessment.

H0: There is no difference between the mean scores.

To prove one of these hypothesis, this requires evaluating the reported scores by way of the T-Test. This can be accomplished through excel, or an online tool. Using an online tool is helpful for time, efficiency, and accuracy. Students should learn to use Excel to do the data analysis for the sake of growing their skill set, and can use the online tools as a resource to verify accuracy. Below are screenshots of the T-Test results from an online tool and Excel:

Raw Data with T-Test of Reading Scores

Online T-Test of Reading Score Data

The data points for the T-Test in Excel match the output from the online tool. This helps verify the accuracy of the work done in Excel.

In this particular data analysis, H0 is proven to be true. There is a 3 point difference between the mean reading score for Hispanic and Black students. Additionally, the P-value for the scoring is .012 further confirming the lack of statistical difference between the two reporting groups.

Numbers 1.3

Excel is an excellent tool for analyzing large sets of data. Basic knowledge and understanding of the tool is beneficial to teachers and students alike. The attached link shows a line graph for reading scores from 52 reporting districts. Below is a screen shot of the original data set:

It's important, in data analysis, to summarize the content into a compelling story that explains the reasoning behind the data set. Large data sets without context are just numbers. It is also imperative that the data set is reviewed for accuracy. Utilizing descriptive statistics helps to evaluate the statistical significance of what has been collected. For the reading scores that were collected, below is a screen shot of the descriptive stats:

A link to the full spreadsheet is available by clicking Here. One of the data sets that stands out is the break down between male and female students. Overall, the mean score for female students is 10 points higher than male students. What is also significant, the female score is six points higher than the mean score for all students, while male students scored 5 points below the mean score for all students. 

Looking at scores for the state of Virginia, the mean score of all students is 1 point higher than the reported score for all 52 reporting districts. Female students in Virginia score 10 points higher than male students, similar to the national picture.

Both nationally and in-state, female students are placing more value in reading comprehension as a skill. 

SAMR

Similar to the basic idea of education, the SAMR model for technology adoption builds on itself to help develop better understanding. When teachers are building lesson plans, it's with the understanding that students need to develop a base understanding of a theory, concept, or idea and then build on it to develop comprehension and then formulate next level conclusions. Technology adoption through the SAMR model begins with the idea that technology in the classroom begins with substitution. Replacing a physical item with a digital one, like a text book, can present cost and time savings, but if there aren't any functional enhancements, it is a direct substitute. The next level of the model introduces functional enhancements from the technology, bringing about augmentation. Moving to digital text books that students can access from mobile devices may also include in tool capabilities to look up vocabulary terms. Enhancements and greater efficiencies can help teachers introduce modification into lesson plans and curriculum. Students may be challenged to work in groups and create digital notes that can be shared among the group and with the teacher. This can help monitor progress on a project or assignment. This also aids students in understanding how technology can assist in an ecosystem that requires thought sharing and accountability. As teachers help students grow and become braver, the ability for redefinition is presented. Apps that weren't previously considered or even in use can be introduced or even built by the class.

Literally having to write a paper could be stressful for students and unproductive. Learning how to research a topic is a valuable lesson, but one that can still be taught through the use of digital means. Using physical books is a matter of preference for many, but the inclusion of them in school environments is lost on a generation that is growing up in a digital norm. Students today are used to text, chat, e-mail and other forms of digital communication. Learning should incorporate the forums they are used to and help them enhance it for greater success.

The millennial generation in the United States consumes more than 50% of its media through digital devices (MarketingCharts.com, 2014). This generation of students will only increase the mobile first mentality displayed by millennial generation. If the goal of education is to teach for the purpose of growth, it is imperative that curriculums and lesson plans are aware of the direction the culture is going and include it today for the development of tomorrow.

Numbers 1.2

Microsoft Excel is a great tool for calculations and analytics. There are many functions in the tool set that make it easy to manipulate large amounts of data and reassign values. Over the course of a semester or year, a teacher can work with anywhere from 30 to 80 students depending upon the grade level. Managing a grade book over a school year can become an arduous task and it's vital that a teacher do it correctly. Excel can help maintain a correct grade book and convert numeric scores into letter grade equivalents.

This image capture shows a sampling of numeric grades converted into letter grade equivalents. The tool bar at the top shows the use of IF statements to evaluate the number grade and populate a corresponding letter in the Grades column. Using functions in Excel can help teachers automate their grade book and make the overall process more efficient.

Here readers can see the grade book and the letter grade conversions.

Jing Screencast

As technology becomes more ubiquitous and paramount to our daily lives, one of the benefits are applications that are built with free usage. Teachers and students can be beneficiaries as they implement more technology into their classroom environment and culture. It is becoming more imperative that communication and curriculum incorporate digital opportunities for today's students. Two products that help in those requirements are Jing and Trello. Below are examples of how both can be utilized in a classroom setting to assist teachers and students. For this example, I used Jing to capture and screencast a tutorial on using Trello. That screencast can be watched here.
Trello is an application that has great benefit to teachers. It can be utilized to build lessons, create class projects, communicate status, and track progress. The benefit to students is that it's a tool that is in use with a number of companies so students will get a head start and gain valuable familiarity with the tool. Below are some image captures of the example Trello board:

 This screen capture shows the Trello board opening.

This screen capture shows the individual cards within a project.









The benefit to creating a screencast is that it can save a teacher time putting together directions or building a tutorial. Building step by step instructions with screen grabs and written out instructions can be time consuming. Creating a five minute video tutorial can save a teacher a third of the time and students have a platform by which they can see and learn the instructions in a more beneficial manner.

Hypothesis Testing - Ebola

Data analysis is an intersection of math and science as it requires the calculation, interpretation, and explanation of data. The successful conclusion of data analysis can be achieved through different means. For this post, analysis of a survey conducted among 103 pharmacy science students will require a t-test to compare data from a matched pair. The pharmacy science students completed a survey prior to and after an information session regarding Ebola. The analysis will look to determine if there was any significant changes in their answers following the information session. When conducting a survey, there are factors that cannot be controlled but may have an impact on the output. In the instance of this survey, the students are all in the same pharmacy science level, but there isn't any indication regarding their performance. Suppose, for example, that of the 103 students surveyed, 13 are top performers, 10 are above average, 70 are average, and 10 are below average. How does their academic ability and understanding impact their survey answers? Also, was the survey timed? Were all the students given the survey at the same time and in the same conditions? Were all the students in the same information session? Independent variables have to be considered when analyzing data because of the opportunity it creates to skew data. The dependent variables in this scenario would be the fact that all the students are answering the same question and are from the same program.
Here the survey data can be viewed with descriptive statistical analysis. Reviewing the TTest results and the standard deviation, the overall survey responses were not statistically different prior to and following the information session. Among the 103 students surveyed, questions 26 and 27 showed the greatest change in attitude based on the higher standard deviation. Interestingly, some students went from disagreeing to agreeing while others went the opposite direction. Considering the research question is to determine if the information session had any impact on the students knowledge or attitude, the data analysis would say it was unsuccessful. The low standard deviation for the questions indicate there wasn't a significant change in student answers following the session.

Top Free Tools

Before making the decision to transition into teaching, I was working in digital media. While I worked for companies that were trying to make money, increasing profit margin was aided by using software and tools that were free or low cost. Reviewing the list of the top free tools of 2015, I have used or currently use the top 6. I have also used Skype, Evernote, Wikipedia, and LinkedIn. All told, I have used 30% of the apps and tools listed in the top 100 for 2015. In my experience, there are very few apps that you really need to pay for because someone will create a free version that will provide the basics of what you need. The app I currently engage with the most is Twitter. I primarily use it to follow news and information from people and organizations that I care about. My initial reasoning for  signing up for Twitter was as a means to stay engaged with my teenage children and be aware of the tools they were using. Coaching high school soccer and moving into teaching has made it more beneficial.
Tools that make it easy consume and disseminate information, and whose interface is slick and easy to use are the most appealing to use.

Blogging

The diagram to the left demonstrates the multiple aspects of blogs that can help develop a successful online learning environment. Audience, presentation, community, and comments are tied together and are necessary traits in building a successful online environment. This diagram isn't exclusive to blogs but is applicable to any digital product. In the specific case of blogging, however, a publisher needs to be cognizant of its intended audience and ensuring the content is formatted to appease them. A key feature of diagram is that there isn't a clear start or end point. Good presentation without an audience will not yield a long lasting output. Also, the aspects of comments and community are interdependent for success. Enabling comments is critical for building a community, but that is not only step in creating a true community. A blog designed for an educational program should consider the potential for multiple audiences. A teacher or professor may blog to help disseminate information to students in the class. Depending on the age of the students, will parents become part of the audience, or do they become the audience if students are still too young to be fully engaged in a digital curriculum. Even high school classes benefit from keeping parents informed of class rules, expectations, and assignments. For high school students, perceived independence doesn't always match actual responsibility and maturity. Building a comments area provides a forum for interaction and engagement. These can be the building blocks to community. Using a high school elective course as an example, the community may consist of more than just the people commenting on the blog. Parents may read the blog to follow along the expected workload and stay engaged with their son or daughter. Prospective students may read the blog to get an early understanding of what is required to be successful in the course. So for blogs, the aspects of audience, presentation, comments, and community are interwoven and essential in making it successful.

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One of the benefits of using digital environments to enhance learning is the opportunity to save information for later retrieval. Students need the ability to go back to information they may have forgotten, so using a blog to list out class rules, expectations, projects, and other things is beneficial to learning. Students can also engage with the learning experience by commenting and sharing their understanding or perspective. This helps create a community dynamic. Blogs can also be used to create a feedback loop between students and teachers which helps teachers ensure students are engaged. This process of idea sharing has students extremely involved in the learning process and enhances retention. 

The current generation of students are significant consumers of content via digital means, so their learning environments need to adapt to that culture. Blogging in the classroom is a viable way to meet that expectation.

About Me

My name is Stephane Longchamp and I am pursuing my Master's Degree in Secondary Education from Shenandoah University. My immediate goal is to earn my Master's and teaching certification with the hope of becoming a full time teacher in Loudoun County. I currently work as a substitute teacher in the county which has helped me gain valuable experience working in the classroom. I have a B.S. in Business Administration so I would like to teach Business, Marketing, or a class along those lines. I am also the head coach for varsity soccer at Potomac Falls High School.
When teaching, studying, and coaching aren't keeping me busy enough I have my family to help. I have six children that range from 18 to 7. My oldest son graduates high school in June and will be attending Radford University in the fall. My second oldest is a junior and then I have 4 elementary aged children in 5th, 4th, and 2nd grade.
I have enjoyed the experience so far, even though at times it has been overwhelming. I also look forward to making new connections, so I hope folks will reach out. You can find me on LinkedIn. Good luck to everyone.

Stephane Longchamp