Bridging the Learning Gap in Advanced Academics: The Discussion Board :Bridging the Learning Gap in Advanced Academics: The Discussion Board Stephania Perkins Biddings EDUC 8823 : Computer Technology and Multimedia in Education Professor Cheri Toledo November 17, 2008


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Stephania Perkins Biddings, MAEd/CI, BSC, and AA EDUC 8823 : Computer technology and Multimedia in Education Professor Cheryl Toledo PhD program in Leadership and Technology Walden University 11/23/2008 2 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Purpose: This presentation is part two of my final project for my EDUC 8823 course in Computers and Multimedia in Education. Although the course covered Educational Technology from the wiki, SmartBoard© or whiteboard, and Google Docs©, to the Second Life applications; my individual focus throughout the course was the Discussion Board. 11/23/2008 3 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Advanced Academics Upper-level course offerings at the secondary level, usually high school. Include, but are not limited to: Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. In some cases, pre-AP and pre-IB courses are offered. 11/23/2008 4 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Some educators, parents and students believed the courses were: Elitist Separate and not equal Benefited students of higher-income families Closed the door on average and regular students (Clemmett, 2006) 11/23/2008 5 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board However, would “opening the door” prompt educators to: Water-down the course content? Decrease the course rigor? (Manzo, 2005) 11/23/2008 6 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board College Board© stems the concerns by: Maintaining the quality of course content Maintaining the rigor of the selections, and pace Maintaining the relationship with colleges—students could still opt out of course with a score of 3 or higher. (Chaker, 2004). 11/23/2008 7 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Although more students are taking the Advanced Placement courses, and passing the tests; less minority—especially black students, are passing the test. This has created a definite learning or performance gap, between the two groups. (Lewin, 2008) 11/23/2008 8 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Possible causes for the gap: Inadequate preparation Lack of prior knowledge Daunting challenge of new, rigorous coursework Inadequate instructional skills and strategies 11/23/2008 9 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board What can educators do to connect the average or regular student with the rigor and selections of Advanced Academics? The answer may reside in the learning theory of Connectivism. 11/23/2008 10 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Connectivism Creates learning links or “connections” Addresses learning as building blocks of knowledge The learning blocks are connected or parallel “…the building blocks of memory are connections.” (Driscoll, 2005) 11/23/2008 11 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board George Siemens: …believes that new connections need to be made to bring learning theories into the new digital age. “Including technology and connection-making as learning activities begins to move learning theories into a digital age. We can no longer personally experience and acquire learning that we need to act. We derive our competence from forming connections.” (2004). 11/23/2008 12 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board This belief and theory may be the connection that the regular students are missing. …better relate to the rigorous content and coursework of AP and IB …make relevant connections with course content. 11/23/2008 13 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board “Over the last twenty years, technology has reorganized how we live, how we communicate, and how we learn. Learning needs and theories that describe learning principles and processes should be reflective of underlying social environments.” (Siemens, 2004). This belief emphasizes the use of technology in the curriculum and planning for all student-learning. 11/23/2008 14 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Although there are many technology tools that educators can access for instructional use, the Discussion Board is one of the more effective tools. The Discussion Board helps in… Sharing Visualizing Enhancing and extending the learning experience 11/23/2008 15 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Procedurally: The instructor… Follows a previous class lesson and discussion with home learning--HL. Selects the topic for HL Creates the forum and posts the topic Sets the scoring criteria or rubric Cites specific discussion directions 11/23/2008 16 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board The student signs-in Reads the instructor’s directions and reviews the rubric. Posts to the original topic Also, posts a response to the posting of at least one other student. 11/23/2008 17 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board Topic: Third-Quarter Poetry  (Instructor) Students, you must select one poem from last quarter’s discussion that you particularly liked. You are to respond to both the original topic-posting, and to the posting of at least one other student in the class. Your original posting must address the content of the topic presented, and be mindful of the rudiments of grammar and punctuation. Your second posting, a response to a fellow student, must be respectful and relate to the topic and content of their posting—whether you agree or disagree with the message or point in their post. 11/23/2008 18 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board (Students) MikeM.: Dylan Thomas’s poem “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” urges readers to fight until the end, and not ever just give up. I found him inspiring, and that his message represented strength in the face of the inevitable. BrittanyR.: I also liked this poem, by Thomas. I liked it more for the fact that it was for his father. His father was dying, and Thomas urged him to not give up, “…to rage, rage against the dying of the light.” BrandonA.: The poem I most connected with was “Leaves of Grass,” by Walt Whitman. In this poem, Whitman demonstrated a new connection with nature, and was full of sensory details. For him, it was almost spiritual. He was a free-thinker, and did his “own thing.” He was controversial in his time, and was not given the credit he was due. Later, people realized he was the beginning of a new movement in creative and individualized thinking. He was also one of the members of the “Fireside Poets,” that also included Emerson and Thoreau. He was definitely in good company! MikeM.: I wondered why he was so controversial. I did not realize that he was considered a “free-thinker” at the time. Everything was so conservative, then. It makes sense, now that his work was not accepted during his lifetime. SofiaP.: I chose “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” by Dylan Thomas. It was a personal choice, because the poem reminded me of my grandfather, and his battle with Alzheimer’s. I would see him fight, and struggle to remember simple things. He wanted to keep his grasp on life—similar to the fight depicted in Thomas’s poem. Like the character in Thomas’s poem, my grandfather raged “against the dying of the light.” 11/23/2008 19 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board This type of discussion provides… Ownership of learning and material—connection Student leadership in discussion forum Addresses AP Literature and Composition’s core standards: use prior knowledge and, or context to comprehend; and elaborate on the meaning of text. Helps the student who may not quite understand, to receive further help, while at home—less intimidation (College Board© 2006) 11/23/2008 20 Biddings, Stephania


The Discussion Board :The Discussion Board The Discussion Board may be one of the tools of technology, that… bridges the learning gap between minority students and their counterparts connect challenged students with the rigors of Advanced Academics. The theory of Connectivism may be the key to reach all students—regular, advanced, challenged and gifted; and create a bridge of learning—using vehicles or strategies that they are familiar with, such as the computer, and the internet. 11/23/2008 21 Biddings, Stephania


References :References Chaker, A. M. (2005). Standards Tighten for AP Courses. Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition, Vol. 246, (29), pp. 1-4. Clemmitt, M. (2006). The Issues. CQ Researcher, March 3, 2006, Vol. 16, (9), pp. 195-202. College Board©. (2006). College Board Standards for College Success™: English Language Arts. Retrieved from http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/asso ciation/academic/english-language-arts_cbscs.pdf. Driscoll, M. (2005). Psychology of Learning for Instruction, 3rd edition. Boston: Pearson. Lewin, T. (2008). Larger Share of Students Succeed on A.P. Tests. New York Times, February 14, 2008, p. 22. Manzo, K.K. (2005). Oregon School Mandates AP Course In Bid to Improve English Skills. Education Week, September 2005, Vol. 25, (4). Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, December 12, 2004. Retrieved from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm, 11/23/2008 22 Biddings, Stephania