Action+Research+Plan+Summary


 * I have completed my AR and found it both successful and informative, while many areas of concern arose for improving on my next project. **


 * The Mimio Project idea was decided upon by my principal, Mrs. Tite. Our school had purchased a Mimio for each teacher, as well as a Whiteboard. They needed to be utilized and teachers needed to work with more engaging activities, according to Mrs. Tite and Mrs. Dalton, our Technology Specialist. The District had not provided funds or time for technology training in regards to the new software. I distributed a survey, through Survey Monkey, to all classroom teachers, asking their opinions of percentage of usage of the Mimio by themselves and their students. The online survey technique was used to encourage teachers to utilize technology in a variety of ways and begin thinking along the line of 21st Century learning. The poll did show teachers and students were not using the new equipment at even a 25 per cent level. My goal was to increase the usage up to at least 50 per cent of weekly usage. Using staff meeting times, so as not to ask teachers to attend extra meetings, we discussed the idea of voluntary trainings and helping to serve as mentors for each other. A group of 10 teachers were willing to train on their own and join a blog for further instruction. The blog discussions did not go as well as I had planned due to teachers’ inexperience with online Wikis or Blogs. This was another area that teachers would need training in and brought up more frustrations than necessary. Returning to paper copies and short face-to-face meetings helped move the program along. Teachers were not well-trained in even the basics of the Mimio and most were not comfortable with using lessons with their classrooms due to inexperience. The teachers who were comfortable with technology took the lessons, improved them, and tested them in their classrooms. Five of the teachers were willing to share their insight, type up directions, and model the lessons in staff meetings. The rest of the staff did exhibit interest and several asked for more information to help use the lessons in the classroom. **


 * Do I feel the project was successful. Yes, partially, with those who were willing to move forward, and no with those who need very basic, and intense training to begin. If I would change any part of the program, it would be to begin with the very basics, retrain, practice, and follow up in the classrooms with the principal’s support in requiring the implementation within the classroom on a regular basis. **