Major Project

for EdPsy 387
Darren Loschen


Study Center

The Plan

I embarked on building a web page that would contain the current homework assignments and topics in the classrooms.  My plan was to use the students in my Advanced Computer Projects class to help build the web page and search for links that would relate to the current topics.  I wanted the teachers to give me their current activities for the week, hopefully in advance, so the students would have a chance to look for pages to use as links in the Study Center.  I was hoping by placing the current activities on the Internet that teachers would look to integrate its use more in the classroom.  I was also hoping to keep parents informed of their students activities in the classroom.

Once we had the web page established, and had it posted on the Internet, a survey would be sent out to randomly selected parents of students in the high school.  This survey would ask about their knowledge of Armstrong Township High School's website.  The teachers in the district would also be asked a set of questions.

Gathering Information and Posting to the World Wide Web

I informed the students in my class of the upcoming project, and they began brainstorming ideas for the how web pages would look.  I also sent a memo to the teachers asking for their current activities.  I received three responses the first time.  Using this information, I, along with the students, began building a web page.  The consensus was to call the web page "Study Center."  We created a main page for the Study Center that is linked to our high school's main page.  We also created pages for Economics, U.S. History, and Art II which all link back to the Study Center.  I posted this first set of pages on the school's website at the beginning of November.  I continued to ask teachers for their class activities.  After about a week with the Study Center up and running, I sent out a survey to 60 randomly selected parents/guardians of students in the district.  I also asked the teachers some questions about the Study Center and their internet usage in the classroom.

Feedback/Evaluation

Only fifteen of the sixty surveys sent to the parents/guardians were returned for a response rate of 25%.

Here is a summary of the information gathered from the surveys.
 
Question Home Only Work Only Both Neither
1.  Do you have Internet access at home and/or work? 5 4 5 1
Question Yes  No  Skipped  
2.  Did you know that Armstrong Township High School has a website? 5 9 1  
3.  Have you visited the website? 4 3 8  
4.  Have you visited the Study Center? 2 3 10  
5.  Was the Study Center useful? 1 2 12  

Fourteen of the fifteen respondents said they have internet access, which is quite encouraging.  Over half of those that returned the survey did not know that the high school had a website.  Five people knew of the site, but only four of them had actually visited the high school's site.  Of the four people that said they had visited only two of them made it to the Study Center.  From these responses, one can see, use of our high school's website is low at least by people in the district.

Participants were also asked for suggestions for improving the Study Center and improving awareness of the high school's website.  The common theme for improving the Study Center was to add more classes, and include more resources.  Those that responded would like to see the address for the website on all items sent from the school (letterhead, envelopes, newsletter, calendar).  A suggestion was also made to post it in the school buildings and post offices.  When the responses starting to come in,  I saw an error I had made by not including the address for the school's website on the letter or the survey sent out.  A simple fact I had overlooked.  I did feel from the responses that if the school publicized the website more it would be used more.  I raised the curiosity of several people with this survey.

I only have four responses from teachers.  All four felt the study center was a good idea if it was maintained with current information.  The teachers thought that students should be informed of the Study Center and wondered how they would be informed of it..  As for additional information, test dates and homework assignments were at the top of the list.  Also, more links were suggested.  Each teacher that responded wanted to use the internet more in the classroom-just not sure how.  Two of the four teachers that responded would like to have their students visit the Study Center to get homework assignments.  I know one teacher was really happy with this project, and he has even given me websites he would like linked to the study center.  I am hoping those teachers that provide information to me will inform the students in their classes of the Study Center.  I guess it will now be my job to keep the teachers excited about this project, and keep it up to date.  I am hoping some of my excitement will rub off on them.

Looking back over this project,  the toughest part has been getting the teachers involved.  Most of them seemed to like the idea, but they are slow to get me information.  More and more classes are being added as they take a look at the Study Center and realize it can be helpful.  The superintendent was a little surprised by the low number of people visiting our website. He plans on spreading the word more, and his first action was to make sure we included a story in the next school newsletter about the school's website.  We are at the beginning stages of what we can do with this project.  As it evolves, I will keep you informed of the progress.
 
 
 

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