Data Collection and Analysis With a Real Teacher

Data Collection and Analysis With a Real Teacher Data analysis is an important aspect of a research after data has been collected from a project. Collection of data before and after the project reveals the outcomes of the inputs given to the project. May first collected data from a student who was his new assistant.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Data Collection and Analysis With a Real Teacher-Researcher specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This student was part of tier three plan that helped students focus on the importance of the project. The student’s role in the project was to collect data that would help May find out important information regarding his teaching and behavior that had been going on in the classroom. One of the methods that can be used to collect data is triangulation. In this approach, multiple sources of data collected are used to narrow down to the information required so as to make a strong research project (Dana and Yendol, 2009). Infor mation collected at different lengths of time is analyzed so that a particular pattern is observed. This is a characteristic of triangulation, implying that it analyzes data that was collected at different times (Swenson, 2007). The student, who collected information at different time intervals and recorded them, gave May important information that helped her draw a plan. The four findings of the report were directly related to issues that May was to address in Class. The findings of the first report revealed that students at one time abandoned their tasks when the teacher left the classroom for a short time. Among the main issues that May will discuss is this scenario. According to normal routines of the school, when a teacher goes out of a lesson for a short time, student should continue writing down their agenda in preparation for the next class. This issue concerns procedure that ought to be addressed. When collection of data progresses, majority of the students begin to partici pate actively rather than being passive, hence, helping them become motivated and part of the project. In addition, the report reveals that some students sit at the back of the classroom. These students usually talk a lot while in class hence creating an uneasy atmosphere in the classroom.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Students suggested to May to rearrange the seating positions in a manner that those seating behind and that are believed to be noise makers will be seated in front. To demonstrate this, May moved one of the students as they had suggested in order observe how it would work. Due to the fact that the student assistant was responsible with her work, she took the responsibility of helping May in coming up with a solution that would help solve the problem of uneasy classroom. The data collected showed progress that was made each week, while the findings by the stu dent were helpful for May to create a plan and formulate strategies that would be needed throughout the research. From the findings, students continuously became engaged in their work every passing week of the study and that they had interest in the lessons they were learning. They begun working as a group so as to meet the goals they had set. From Mays’ graphs, you can observe steady progress in class participation. The visual graph that May gave his students to track their progress gave them ownership in the project (McDaniel R., 2009). According to Robin McDaniel (2009), students of these days are used to hands on learning because it gives them ownership of the project which in turn helps them stay engaged. Giving students challenges encourages them to look for solutions of problems given to them. When visual clues are used, they remain on track and are informed of their progress in every step. From the information given by the assistant student and graphs of students, May would set new goals though, I would suggest that she challenges the students to complete their agendas and be ready to work within a short time than before. Together as a group, the students would be willing to accomplish the new goal within a short time. I would also consider setting up a good atmosphere in the classroom. I would give the students an opportunity to design goals that are attainable and use charts to create visual reinforcements.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Data Collection and Analysis With a Real Teacher-Researcher specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another group to be observed was the tier groups given to some students in May’s class. They were each given a tracking chart to help them stay on track with others in class. Although the two students made progress Leah’s progress was steady compared to Anthony as they struggled to meet goals set for them. Leah had an easy time meeting t he goals with little effort. I believe that Leah should be moved gradually to tier one group while Antony should continue with his individual goal sheet and personal graph. His goals should be increased in small increments so as to achieve success on a daily basis. Another approach that May can use to enable students succeed is by appointing two teacher assistants. Using them more responsibly would give them personal challenges to work hard as well as meet classroom goals. This would enable students struggle to meet their set individual goals thereby, enabling them stay focused in class. The most critical part of a project is the outcome. Whether the strategies that were used are successful or not does not matter, what matters is the fact that the a research project was completed and that there was an outcome. The outcome can then be shared with other professionals. If your research produces results that are helpful to the school or district, then your information should be shared w ith other professionals that you work with. Ethically, one should share his or her research findings in order to get divergent views and observations from others. Sharing of work has been likened to a stagnant pond. Change can be created in such a pond by triggering ripples in the water (Dana and Yendol, 2009). The best approach to use when sharing this information is by sharing it with colleagues at a professional development session. Power point slide presentation is the best way to present your information to such an audience. Your presentation should be structured in a manner that it shows the progress of the research project from initial stages to the final stages. Start from questions that led you to conduct the research, explanations and respond to questions from the audience (Walden University, 2011).. From the discussions, you would get varied observations that would strengthen you research findings.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although I might not give a perfect presentation because of fear, this would be a good way to begin or start a school calendar year. That is, seeing professionals talk about how to change stagnant policies that have been unattended for many years. In that regard, I believe that research projects can be used to adequately prepare students to meet challenges of the outside world. References Dana, N. F., Yendol, D. (2009). The reflective educator’s guide to classroom  research: Learning to teach and teaching to learn through practitioner inquiry  (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. McDaniel, P. (2009). How to Create Engagement in the Classroom. EHow Demand Media, Inc. Retrieved from https://classroom.synonym.com/ensure-students-engaged-classroom-7702283.html Swenson, M. (2007). Triangulation: A Transcendental Process. Interpretive Leadership. Web. Walden University (2011). A case study: Living the process of inquiry with a real teacher-researcher study. Web.

How to Choose a Major for Your College Application

How to Choose a Major for Your College Application SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve recently started the college application process and are looking at particular schools, you might have noticed that some schools want you to know your major before you apply. Or at some schools, even if you don’t have to know your major, you have to apply to a specific undergraduate college such as Engineering, Nursing, or Arts and Sciences. So how do you know which major or school to apply to? What if you have no clue what you want to study in college? We'll give you advice and show you how to navigate admission sites to get the information you need. Applying to a Specific Undergraduate College For many universities, you apply for undergraduate admission and that’s it. Even if the university is divided into several smaller colleges of study, you won't have to choose a school until after you get to campus. For example, at Stanford, I wasn’t required to apply to a major or specific undergraduate division. Once I got to campus, I could choose between the different undergraduate schools: Humanities and Sciences, Engineering, or Earth Sciences. Each school housed its own majors. However, for some universities, you need to make the choice between undergraduate colleges when you are applying as a high school senior. To take a few prominent examples, Northwestern, Cornell, and Boston College all require you to apply to a specific undergraduate college. This can all be daunting when you're just 18 and don't know what to do with your life yet! The choices at those schools are as follows: Northwestern College of Arts and Sciences School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications School of Engineering and Applied Science School of Communication School of Music School of Education and Social Policy Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences College of Architecture, Art, and Planning College of Arts and Sciences College of Engineering College of Business (which is further divided into two schools: School of Hotel Administration and School of Applied Economics and Management) College of Human Ecology School of Industrial and Labor Relations Boston College College of Arts and Sciences School of Management School of Education School of Nursing Which school you apply to could also affect your application requirements. For example, the different colleges at Cornell have different standardized test requirements. So what do you do if you want to apply to a university like this- but aren't sure about your future area of study? The answer to this depends on whether the choice is binding or not. When Picking a College or Major Is Binding If it’s easy to switch between schools once you enroll as a student, then don’t worry too much about the choice you make senior year. Just pick the college that is closest to your current interests.For example, at Cornell internal transfers are generally easy, but requirements vary depending on the college. If it’s hard to make an internal transfer, however, you'll need to think carefully and make sure you are choosing the right school before you apply. For example, at Boston College, transfers into some divisions are harder than others. If you decide as an undergraduate to go into the Management College or Nursing School, it’s hard to get in. As a general rule, if a college has a very specific field of study (engineering, nursing, management) and that particular college had extra requirements for undergraduate admission, internally transferring will be harder. How to Figure Out How Binding a School Is How do you find out how binding the choice is? First, search the undergraduate admission site and see whether it offers any guidance or advice for picking an undergraduate school or division. Usually, this will be on the application requirements page. For example, on Boston College's admissions page for its majors and minors, it explains that all applicants must apply to a specific undergraduate division. Further down, it gives more in-depth information about what to do if you're still undecided about what you want to study, or if you're considering an internal transfer. If you can’t find this information on the admissions website, search "[School Name] internal transfers." Most universities with strictly defined undergraduate divisions will have processes and policies for students who have already enrolled and decided they want to switch. If you can’t find any of this information online, look up the contact information for the school's admissions office and either call or send an email. Also, don't be scared to contact admissions officers- they tend to be very friendly and helpful! Once you've figured out whether the choice of an undergraduate division is binding or not, what do you do next? If the Choice Is Binding ... If a university on your list has a binding admission policy to undergraduate divisions, make sure you have other college options that are less strict. You wouldn’t want to get stuck committing to a college or area of study you later decide you’re not interested in. Therefore, I recommend applying to at least two universities that allow you to choose your school and area of study after you get to campus. If the Choice Is Not Binding ... If you’re really not sure which college to apply to and the choice isn't binding, then pick the most general program. Most universities will have a College of Arts and Sciences or a Humanities and Sciences school with the widest variety of majors. The other schools are usually geared toward more specialized for programs such as engineering and nursing. Therefore, don’t apply to a specific area of study like that unless you’re certain it's a career you want to go into Applying to a Specific Major While some schools have you choose an undergraduate division or college when you apply, others go further and want you to apply to a specific major. Sometimes you'll need to apply to a major if you are interested in a particularly competitive or rigorous field of study. This means you have to know even more specifically what you want to study before you get to college. One example is San Diego State University. When you apply, you choose a major and are ranked within the major. You can apply undecided and declare when you get to campus. However, if you want to pursue a specialized subject such as nursing, you have to apply as a high school senior. Another example is Georgetown. While they allow applicants to apply undecided, they recommend that applicants interested in language, literature, math, or the sciences apply in those majors. So what do you do if a college on your list wants you to know your major before you get to campus? Find Out Whether Switching Majors Is Hard Your first step is to find out how hard or easy it is to switch majors. Use the strategies we focused on above: start by browsing the admission website and then search for "[School Name] switching major" on Google. If neither of these methods pans out, feel free to contact the admissions office and ask them directly. As a general rule, if a major has more specific or harder admission requirements (this is often the case with science, math, nursing, and engineering), it will be harder to transfer into. If changing your major isn’t difficult, don’t agonize over the decision. Choose a major that best aligns with your interests and strongest classes. Admissions officers will want to see that you have the academic chops to back up your intended major, so don’t pick biology if you’ve only taken one biology class and did poorly in it! If switching your major is difficult, make sure to choose a major that is related to a career you want and your personal strengths. Also, don't forget to apply to other colleges that allow you to choose your major on campus so you’ll have some choices. Again, the worst-case scenario is being locked into a major you eventually decide you don’t want to study, thereby making you unable to pursue something you're actually interested in! Favorite High School Subjects and Possible Majors There are often dozens, if not hundreds, of majors you can choose from in college, and some are very different from what you study in high school. This can make it hard to choose a major on a college application, regardless of whether you have to just indicate interest or actually apply to a major. If you want to explore college majors because you have to list one for an application but aren’t sure where to start, this list is a jumping-off point based on what you like in high school. Research interesting-looking majors by looking up their department websites at schools you’re interested in. For example, if you want to learn more about sociology, look up "[School Name] department of sociology." Majors are approached differently across universities, so it’s smart to have an idea of the different ways a major can be taught. Here are the various types of majors you can look for in popular fields depending on the subjects you've enjoyed so far in high school: If You Love English/Language Arts English Literature Comparative Literature Creative Writing Philosophy Journalism Communications Foreign Language Studies If You Love Math Accounting Business Computer Science Economics Information Technology Philosophy Mathematics Engineering (any kind) If You Love Science Biology Chemistry Physics Pre-Medicine Studies Environmental or Earth Science Environmental or Biochemical Engineering Geology Nursing Psychology If You Love History/Social Sciences History Anthropology Sociology Psychology Political Science International Relations Foreign Language Studies If You Love Theater/Fine Arts/Music Theater/Performance Studies Film Photography Art Art History Dance Communications Music Performance If You Want to Go Into Medicine Biology Chemistry Organic Chemistry Neuroscience Physics Psychology If You Want to Go Into Law Criminal Justice Economics English Literature History International Relations Philosophy Psychology Political Science Sociology If You Want to Go Into Business Accounting Business Administration Economics Human Resources Management Science Psychology Again, this is just a starting point. Many students explore classes outside their major once they get to college- and many end up in fields they never expected to. Use this list to help you find majors you might like, but don't feel as though you must study something. Should I Choose a Major or Be "Undecided"? Some colleges don’t require you to apply within a major but do give you the option to say what you want to study. This gives you a choice: should you apply undecided, or indicate a potential major? If you're leaning strongly toward an area of study and have the academic experience to back it up, it’s smart to go ahead and indicate that interest. This can help show colleges where to focus on your high school transcript. For example, if you want to study biology and have excellent grades in natural science and math and have even done a little research, put own biology as a prospective major. Doing this will put your experience in context and show how interested you are in the subject. That said, if you’re really not sure and simply want to explore academic subjects in college, there’s nothing wrong with applying undecided. Many universities expect undergraduates to browse a variety of fields and often require them to take classes in all major subjects. Furthermore, switching your major is very common in college- at some colleges, more than half of undergraduates end up switching! Just make sure that on your application, even if you don’t indicate a major, you demonstrate strong intellectual interests and aptitude, either through your essays or extracurricular activities. Final Tip: Apply to Non-Binding Colleges, Too As a final piece of advice, make sure at least a few of the colleges you apply to do not bind you to a major or undergraduate division before you get to campus. Your goal is to have as many options as possible once you get to April of your senior year. One way to do this is to apply to liberal arts schools. If you really have no idea what you want to study, liberal arts colleges can be good choices, as they encourage students to take a wide variety of classes and don’t expect you to enter knowing exactly what you want to study. Many universities also just accept general undergraduate applicants. Make sure as you compile your list of colleges that you do your research and see where they stand on binding versus non-binding school/major choices. To sum up, apply to a wide range of colleges and universities so you’re not stuck choosing between being a chemistry major at one school and an art major at another come April your senior year! What’s Next? The best way to maximize your admissions chances to the college of your dreams is with a high ACT/SAT score. If you're aiming for perfection, check out our expert guides to getting a 1600 on the SAT and a 36 on the ACT- both written by a real full scorer. Looking for an academically relaxed college experience? Find out what the easiest majors for your bachelor's degree are. Didn't get a good score on the ACT/SAT essay? You're not alone. Learn how to improve your essay on a retake with these ACT and SAT-specific essay guides. Not sure of the ACT/SAT score you should be aiming for? See how to set a target SAT score or ACT score based on the schools you want to get into. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: