Capstone Log EDRS 8000 & EDRS 8900

Instructional Technology Department

Candidate:
John Phillips, III

Mentor/Title:
Dr. Tammy Reed/ ESOL Director

School/District:
New Holland Knowledge
Academy/ Gainesville City
School System

Research Project Title:

Academic and Engagement Effects of Integrated Technology in Elementary Math Education

Date
08/20/14
08/21/14
08/21/14
08/22/14
08/24/14
08/28/14
08/31/14

Activity/Amount of Time

PSC/ISTE Standards

(Please total the time after the last entry.)

Locate and preview research articles to brainstorm possible

research topics.
[2 hrs]
Identify research topic and collect articles.
[3 hrs]

PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b

Research and read articles on topic.

PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b

[4 hrs]
Create a literature review map connecting themes.

PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b

PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b
PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b

[2 hrs]
09/03/14 Literature review outline and draft.
[3 hrs]
09/05/14
Reflection:
When posed with the opportunity to conduct my own research study, I felt as though I needed to pick a
topic that I am connected to so that I would stay interested throughout the course of the study.
Mathematics was always a subject that I was drawn to and I am a believer in the changes that technology
can make in the classroom. Some teachers readily adopt instructional technology and others are firmly
against it. I decided to look into literature to see if any concrete evidence had been found for or against the
idea of instructional technology in mathematics instruction. The first thing I found out was that there was
some evidence supporting the use of technology in classroom environments. However, for every study I
found that was supportive, I found another that seemed to refute it. With no real winner in this argument, I
decided to make that my topic of research.
10/21/14

Methodology design research.

[4 hrs]

PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b
PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b

10/22/14
10/24/14
10/28/14
10/31/14
11/03/14

Develop methodology and data measurement tools.

[3 hrs]

PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b

Draft introduction and methodology revisions and editing.

[3 hrs]

PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b

[2 hrs]

Draft introduction and methodology.

Reflection:
Throughout this portion of my capstone, I took time to narrow my field of research and study. I decided to
study the effects of integrated technology on motivation and academic achievement. In doing so, I decided
to conduct a mixed methods study. In my study, I would use the pre and post-test data of two different
groups of students: a control and an experimental group. I also researched and found applicable
instruments for observations that would inform the qualitative side of my study.

11/08/14

CITI training.
[2 hrs]

11/07/14

Develop interview protocols and permissions forms.

11/13/1411/14/14
11/16/14

Compile final research proposal.

11/17/14

Review plans with principal for research approval.

[2 hrs]
[4 hrs]
IRB review application.
[2 hrs]
[2 hrs]

PSC 4.2
ISTE 5b
PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b
PSC 6.1
ISTE 6a, 6b
PSC 4.2
ISTE 5b
PSC 3.6
ISTE 3f

Reflection:
One of the first tasks that I had to accomplish before I could begin my study is obtain the proper
permissions and notify all necessary parties of the study. During this portion of my capstone, I followed
the protocol to set those objectives in motion. I received the proper permissions and once again, reviewed
my study with the school administration. In presenting my proposed study to the administration, I was
able to explain my rationale for the study and seek final guidance before conducting the study.
01/14/15

Collaborate with colleagues conducting research with.

[2 hrs]

01/16/15
02/2/1503/6/15

Discuss research project with students.

[2 hrs]
Conduct instruction using social networking sites (SNS)
with students. Model and facilitate SNS process, develop
weekly activities, monitor student learning, evaluate student
performance through posted rubrics, observe student
motivation. (9 hrs/wk for 5 wks)
[45 hrs]

PSC 2.1, 3.1, 3.6

ISTE 2a, 3a, 3f
PSC 2.1, 2.3
ISTE 2a, 2c
PSC 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1,
3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 4.1, 6.3
ISTE 2b, 2c, 2d, 2f, 2g, 3a, 3b,
3c, 3e, 5a

Reflection:
This portion of my capstone project was the actual research. This, of course, was the most engaging
portion of the capstone project. I enjoy observing teachers teach with the integrated technology and
observing the students as they engaged in the activities. During my observations, I used an instrument that
helped me measure student engagement and on-task-ness. Throughout the observations of the control class
and the experimental group, I was able to notice a difference immediately. Students in the experimental
group appeared more engaged, motivated to participate, and caused few in-class disruptions. The data
gathered from the instruments found supports my observations. I also took pre and post test data of the
two groups to compare achievement and growth data.
03/12/15
03/13/15
03/23/15
03/27/15
04/6/1504/8/15

Collect data measurements from class averages and surveys.

[2 hrs]

PSC 2.8
ISTE 2h

Analyze data and create tables/charts for display.

PSC 2.8
ISTE 2h

[3 hrs]
Draft analysis section of research paper and make
conclusions.

PSC 6.2
ISTE 6c

[3 hrs]
04/13/15 Compile final research paper.
PSC 6.2
[6 hrs]
ISTE 6c
04/27/15
Reflection:
After I collected the observational data and the pre and post-test data, I was able to crunch the numbers
and see if the data supported my observations and research hypotheses. I was not surprised to find that the
data collected during the observations supported my research hypothesis. Students who were taught by
integrated technology methods showed both a greater level of engagement and higher academic growth.
From the collected data, I was able to create graphs and charts that displayed the data in ways that other
could understand. In future research, I decided that it would be more effective to select a single form of

instructional technology to research, as opposed to opening the research and observation to any form of
technology. It is also notable that the control group showed growth. Those students continued to learn,
however the students in the experimental group showed higher growth. I think that in the future, it would
be more reliable to research only one teacher. Researching two teachers and two different groups of
students could have skewed my results.
Total Hours: [101 hours]

DIVERSITY
(Place an X in the box representing the race/ethnicity and subgroups involved in this capstone.)

Ethnicity

P-12 Faculty/Staff
P-2

3-5

Race/Ethnicity:
Asian
Black
Hispanic
Native American/Alaskan Native

White
Multiracial
Subgroups:
Students with Disabilities
Limited English Proficiency
Eligible for Free/Reduced
Meals

6-8

P-12 Students
9-12

P-2

3-5
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

6-8

9-12