Paving the Road Helping Teachers Meet the Needs of 21st Century Learners

Karen P. Bakoulis

Statement of the Problem

The Smarter Balance Assessment (SBAC) is set to be implemented, to the students in grades 3-5 at the target school starting in the spring of 2014. There has been limited training or professional development to prepare teachers to teach the 21st Century Skills students will need for these assessments. As research has shown for new initiatives to be effective professional development needs to be on going (Tohill, 2009).

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study was twofold

To conduct a needs assessment of the teachers at the target school to identify their needs to teach 21st century learners and therefore prepare students for upcoming state mandated assessments To create and implement a professional development program
As a result of this study teachers indicated an understanding of their role in preparing students for education in the 21st Century and the new mandated assessments.

Research Questions
1 What do teachers identify as professional development needs for preparing students to be 21st Century learners and the upcoming SBAC assessments? What are the teachers perspectives of how their needs were addressed during the professional development? To what extent are teachers implementing the strategies presented during the professional development in their classrooms? What additional supports and training do teachers need?

Literature Themes

21st Century Education

21st Century Learning Environment 21st Century Skills 21st Century Assessments

The Change Process Successful Professional Development Program Development

Needs Assessment Survey Research

Key Research Articles

Lambert, J. & Cuper, P. (2008) Multimedia Technologies and Familiar Spaces: 21st-Century Teaching for 21st-Century Learners, Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 8(3), 264-276. Lambert & Cuper talk about the importance of student reflection and critical thinking The Essential Skills for digital teaching and learning The important role technology plays in 21st century education
Kay, K. (2009). Middle Schools Preparing Young People for 21st Century Life and Work. Middle School Journal, 40(5), 41-45. Ken Kay talks about how rigor needs to be redefined for the 21st century because students need to master core academic subjects and 21st century skills That emphasizing 21st century skills help promote learning by doing, talking, working in teams, student choice and problem solving.

For the study both articles provided information for identifying the skills needed to prepare students to be 21st century learners and successful on the upcoming SBAC assessments.

Methodology
Participants
Teachers from the target school teaching grades K - 5.

Methodology
Instruments
Research Question 1
A 21st Century Skills Survey containing ten four-point Likert scale items and two openended items

Research Question 2
A Professional Development Evaluation Form

Research Questions 2, 3, and 4

A Post survey was developed based on the needs identified by the pre-survey. It was used to rate the level of new knowledge after the professional development, the level of implementation, and further needs of the teachers

Methodology
Procedures Studys Design
The study used mixed methodologies, survey research and professional development. There was qualitative data as well as quantitative data collected through the surveys Qualitative data was collected through the open-ended responses on both surveys.

Quantitative data was collected through the Likert Scale items

on both surveys.

Methodology
Procedures - Steps
Step 1
The researcher identified the skills needed to prepare students to be 21st Century learners and successful on the upcoming SBAC assessments.

Step 2
Developed a pre-survey for teachers to be able to identify their areas of strength and areas of weakness on the determined skills.

Step 3
Administered the pre-survey to the identified participants and collect the data

Step 4
Analyzed the data from the pre- survey and use this data to professional development

Step 5
Two professional developments were given to the targeted population and they then completed the post survey.

Results
Data - Data Analysis
Research Question 1. What do teachers identify as professional development needs for preparing students to be 21st Century learners and the upcoming SBAC assessments? The researcher looked at the mean scores on the Pre-Survey to see where most of the target population fell in regards to 21st century skills in order to find the higher areas of need. When the researcher compared how the teacher rated their own instructional skills to the skills of their students the means were higher in all the areas on the side of the teachers. This shows that the teacher feel that they are able to teach

skills at a higher level than the students are producing.

Pre-Survey Results
4

Comparing How Teachers Rated Their Own Skills to How They Rated the Students Skills

Teachers' Skills

Students' Skills
2

1 Critical Thinking Problem Solving Collaborators Communicators Information & Technology Literacy Flexible & Adaptable Inovative & Creative Globally Competent Financially Literate

Scale: Above Average=4 Average= 3 Below Average=2 Not at all=1

Time Teachers Spend Using Technology in a Week

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% Not At All 1-2 Times 3-4 Times Daily

How often do you use technology during instruction?

How often do you plan for the use technology in your lessons? How often do you use technology to monitor student growth?

Amount of Time Students Spend Using Technology in a Week

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% How often do your students use technology during instruction? How often do your students use technology to gain information? Not At All 1-2 Times How often do your students use technology creatively in making published pieces? 3-4 Times Daily How often do your students use technology for communication for educational purposes?

None

Teachers Responses to the 2 Open-ended Questions

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

90% 80% 70%

60%
50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

What additional training would you like to help you prepare your students for the Smarter Balance Assessment?

What additional training would you like to help you prepare your students for 21st Century education?
Technology training Anything Not Sure

Questions & terminology Keyboarding & computer/internet experience Do not know

Technology Available for Daily Instruction

The Researcher did a physical count of the available technology

There is one classroom at each grade level 1-5 that has a Smart Board After reviewing the Pre-survey results and counting the available technology the researcher looked into other means for teacher to supply the technology experience the students need to be 21st Century Learners.

Professional Developments
Two Professional Developments were offered to the target population
The First PD was on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Teachers in attendance- 12 This PD was designed to give teachers a first hand experience of what is expected from their students on the assessment. Teacher took the practice tests for grades 3-5. The researcher also provided them with handouts of sample materials that they could use the next day in their classrooms. https://sbacpt.tds.airast.org/student / The Second PD was on Using iPads During Instruction Teachers in attendance- 9 This PD was designed to show teachers a way that they could use the available technology during instruction. The researcher demonstrated the program/app Nearpod. This is an interactive instructional tool that can be used during instruction, for student support or as homework. It can integrate web pages, videos, polls, and assessment. The polls and assessments are reported back to the teacher as the students submit their answers. http://www.nearpod.com

Results for Research Questions 2-4

Research Question 2. What are the teachers perspectives of how their needs were addressed during the professional development? Research Question 3. To what extent are teachers implementing the strategies presented during the professional development in their classrooms? Research Question 4. What additional supports and training do teachers need?

For Research Question 2 the teachers that attended the professional developments complete a PD evaluation form. For Research Questions 2-4- The teachers complete a post-survey. This survey collected data on the areas that were found to be areas of need on the presurvey. The post-survey also had 2 open-ended questions that asked for additional support the teachers needed. The researcher looked at the changes in the mean scores in the areas of need from the pre-survey, she was looking for growth in the areas of technology use and skills .

Post-Survey Results Compared to Pre-Survey

Amount of Time Students Use Technology During a Week
3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0

During Instruction

To Gain Information

Pre
3.5
3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0

Creatively in making published Communication for educational pieces purposes

Post

Amount of Time Teachers Use Technology During a Week

During Instruction

Pre

Post

Plan to Use During Instruction

Scale: Daily=4, 3-4 times a week= 3, 1-2 times=2, or Not at all=1

Comparing How Teachers Rate Their Skills at Developing Student Skills from the Pre to Post Surveys
4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0

Targeted Area

Showed growth

Pre

Post

Scale: Above Average=4 Average= 3 Below Average=2 Not at all=1

Conclusions
Research Question 1: The research showed that there is a need to provide students with more technology and global awareness instruction. Teachers requested more information about the new Smarter Balanced Assessments their students will be taking Research Questions 2-4: Most of the target teachers attended the professional developments Data show an increase in the amount of time teachers and students are using technology Teachers rated their skills at developing 21st century learners higher after attending the professional developments This study showed that teachers want to find ways to improve their students education. Even with very limited technology available at the target school, the teachers are willing to be train to use what they do have in new ways to provide what is needed.

Implication for Future Research/Direction

Professional Development will be ongoing to further improve the education for the students at the target school Look into more programs like Nearpod that can be used during instruction, especially in classrooms that do not have Smart Boards Look into getting more iPads- At least one set per grade level Continue surveying teachers so professional developments fit their needs and the needs of the school Present findings to the Board of Education so they know how the lack of technology is effecting the education of the students.

What I Learned from this Study in a Nutshell

Teachers and their Desire to Improve Their Students Education

Changes

in education due to new global demands

How to create 21st Century Classrooms with Limited Funding and Technology

Karen Bakoulis
EDU690