nfs5's blog

What’s The Relevance of Research?

nfs5 — Wed, 04 May 2011 22:58:09 +0000

I have to say that when I first hear that I had to participate in a research study class I wasn’t thrilled. However, did know what to expect and therefore, took things for what they were. The course was required and I needed to fill it. Then I happen to make it to the first day of class and I said to myself; this is going to really make or break whether I remain in the UTEP program. It was quite clear that this was no beginners course and the expectations were great. I went back to my academic advisor and asked her to make the connect as to why I was taking an honors research study course for education. That it definitely wasn’t an intended field that I wanted to go into and that I needed a good reason as to why I was taking it. See the question was never as to whether the Professor and I was going to get along or what will I not understand in this course but rather why? and will it be officially apart of the program after I have taken it?Then I entered my methods course and said to myself, “Here we go again.” What purpose will these Professor serve in my educational training? After the second week in these two courses I made an amazing connection. My research study course would assist me in connecting with my Professor of methods. Not only would it help me to connect to my professor but I then found out that research had already been established by my professor on the topic I had selected for my research study. Fulfillment had been justified as to what purpose these two courses would serve in my career.Professor Elliot was quite clear in advising that my research study would actually help boost my career and that I could venture into other leadership roles with the skills behind research under my wing. What skills? Well I’m glad you thought to ask, before I ramble on about what skills are needed and gained from a research study I will first define it. Research is defined as “the systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalized knowledge. Study is defined as the devotion of time and attention to acquire knowledge on a topic/subject.After getting the definition down I had to think of a topic which I have to admit did not come easy. I didn’t want to inquire too much work on my already hectic schedule but I definitely wanted to attain an A in the course, so I focused on my field of concentration and something that I wasn’t quite familiar with so I chose Special Needs and Mathematic Education. Already a great interest as we lack qualified teachers in both these fields. I wanted to inquire what techniques would be effective in bringing up the math scores of these students.I then had to ask myself, “Am I even qualified to perform a study of my own on such a topic?” Turns out that the topic has been a recent focus and not much study has been done on it, so of course my study wouldn’t hurt. Now the skills on how to conduct a research. Well that’s when Professor Elliot came into the picture full force, with exposure to the particular topics that would assist us in conducting our research and writing out our research papers we became well equipped and qualified to perform out studies. Things necessary to conduct a study:1. A topic of inquiry.2. Foundation on Research.3. Understanding of Theory in Models and Communication.4. Revisiting and thinking critically about my inquiry.5. How to obtain Literature significant of inquiry topic.6. Outline of what a research outline and review looks like.7. How to code a transcript.8. The logistics on how to perform and use descriptive statistics, correlations analysis, paired and independent t-test and regression analysis within IBM’s SPSS19 Software.9. To what the final research proposal outline and closing comments should look like.10. Patience, Organizational skills and a good ear and you are on your way to conducting an promising research study.F.Y.I. – Research Studies are very time devoted and aren’t to be taken lightly. I have to say that I put more effort and work into this class than any of my other courses. However, it is quite rewarding to have the skills and ability to be able to apply these skills onto my resume. I definitely enjoyed my time in this course and hope to have many more encounters with Professor N. Elliot. He was a definite pleasure and I’ve learned a great deal from the course.Thank you!

Charter Schools & Special Education Labeling

nfs5 — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 03:56:21 +0000

As I have I observed many classes during my research study I have noticed that charter schools do not have the issue of special education labels. Within an urban community this is a very interesting measure to consider. What makes charter schools so different in educating similar types of students that traditional public schools educate? Why is it necessary for traditional schools to label their students? After further analysis, I’ve come to believe that charters don’t label due to the structure of charters schools, their low tolerance for misconduct and the extreme care used to make students understand how important and capable they are in completing any task set in front of them.My question then became if charter schools don’t feel the need to label their students why do traditional schools find it necessary? Various studies revealed that labeling ideally assist teachers in focusing on the students that will excel. Studies have also shown that students that are labeled tend to keep the same labels as time progresses. There evidently are some psychological affects to being labeled for students as they continue to perform academically and behaviorally within the classroom the same. Once students are labeled they either obtain the motivation to do their best or they retain the disposition to do just enough or nothing at all because they’re going to fail anyway. Some studies go as far as to say that labeling is good. That weeding out the accelerated and special needs helps to not make sure that students get the help that they need. Yet, are we really helping students by watering down the context that needs to be learned? At the rate special needs students are taught they will never get caught up. How does that help?What I’ve gathered from my observation is that charters schools maintain a common goal. They want to see their students succeed. They hold their students to a higher expectation rather than settle for just anything the students supply. Charter schools sweat the small stuff and measure out a plan to keep students that are falling behind on track. Teachers and Administrators alike hold on to a common goal…”Give their students the tools needed to excel in school for college.” When will traditional schools take a look at what the charters schools are doing and take notes while they’re at it? They must be doing something right; otherwise parents wouldn’t want to get their children into them so badly. Parents know that the traditional schools are failing them. Teachers, Parents, Administrators and even Students aren’t being held accountable for their strengths and weaknesses and therefore loose out on the most important purpose for it all “Learning.”

Special Needs & Labeled, There is a difference

nfs5 — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 04:24:34 +0000

There is a matter never considered that became a reality to an issue I may find amongst my research. What is the “TRUE” definition of a special needs student and the fundamental behind educating a special needs student. Depending upon the area in which you will become an educator special needs may take on a whole new definition. ”Defined by individuals of the Disabilities Education Act. Special Needs Students are young children who have been diagnosed as having developmental delays, or any child who has been evaluated as having one of a limited list of disabilities specified in IDEA are considered as having special needs when they requires special education and related services (20 U.S.C. 1401 and 34 C.F.R. §300.8). (U.S. Department of Education, 2007).” (Brennan & Rosenzweig, 2008) Gale Encyclopedia of Children’s Health says that special education is designed to ensure that students with disabilities are provided with an environment that allows them to be educated effectively. That qualified disabilities for special education entails physical disabilities such as being deaf or blind; mentally disabled such as Down’s syndrome and autism; learning disabilities such as dyslexia and behavioral disorders such as ADHD.However, looking into an urban classroom such as Newark Public Schools you won’t necessarily find what has been described as a special needs classroom. More or less you may find a few students that suffer from ADHD. Recently, I experienced subbing in my first special needs classroom and I was unprepared for what I was to discover. That my ideal thoughts of a special needs classroom was nothing like those that I had taught across town. The students that I would interact with that day had actual disabilities that prohibited them from learning or interacting like an average student.What I had known as a special needs classroom, was a classroom filled with students that had behavioral issues. Students at various grade levels grouped together because they were incapable of performing at the same capacity as their peers. Not that they could not complete the work but rather they comprehended slower than their peers or even lack the motivation to perform to the best of their abilities. So would that make them a specials needs student? By the definitions presented earlier, No! Rather these children have been labeled. Labeled as students with special learning disabilities to slow the pace down academically.So the question that lies ahead for my challenging proposed topic is, “How will I define “Special Needs” for my research study? My initial research topic was built of the concept of Labeled “Special Needs” students. Unsure of which classroom will easily comply with observation and interviewing teachers, this will be a topic to continue…

Why the Controversy?

nfs5 — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:11:17 +0000

Many times you will hear people say, “We Want the Best Education Possible for OUR Children.” However; the controversy in New Jersey, especially Newark, NJ is who will provide that best education for our children. Attacks of Charter versus Traditional Public schools have grown bigger in Newark than having an African American as President of the United States of America. Why the Controversy?Arguments of who really provides the best education for our students fall mostly on the results of standardized tests. Who’s producing results that will bring Newark out of the high risk/need improvement status? Research has shown that either side can be argued of doing a terrible or great job in achievement. According to research by Jason M. Barr of Rutgers University, Newark has the largest school system within New Jersey and scores the lowest on standardized test compared to the overall state for 4^th and 8^th grade students amongst all subject matters. Barr indicates that students in charters schools perform worse in 4^th grade and improve academically in 8^th grade; while public school students perform vice versa. His study also reveals that based on characteristics such as the volume of minority students, lack of minority teachers, smaller school space, longer days and school year impacts the influence of testing results.With this being said I still cannot conclude how or why there is such controversy as to where a student obtains their education, as long as students are provided the best qualified and influential staff, as long as staff and parent involvement are collaborative and cooperative in ensuring students succeed then what’s the big deal? Parents overall have the final say in what school their child attends whether or not a charter school is accessible to them. Opportunity should not be shadowed on the category of a public school. What do I mean by that? Charter schools are in fact public schools; they only differ through accountability in which they are operated by non-profit organizations that are publicly funded. They uphold the same laws, regulations as traditional public schools. They aren’t unionized which is a positive matter in which they do not have to keep teachers that aren’t providing the best to their students. Parent involvement is mandated and with the quality of education being obtained by students is hardly a strenuous concern.In opinion, the parents that choose charter or additional curricula outside of the traditional public schools care more about their child’s education and understand the means of importance instead of carrying excuses of why they are attentive to an extent. Many may say that my view in contradictory since I look to work and build Newark public schools however my child attends a charter school. I stand behind the decision in saying I know and am aware of the quality of education my child is receiving and know that it isn’t half way as challenging in a traditional public school. I also know that there is improvement needed and I want to be a part of correcting the matter rather than just talking about what should or needs to be done. Charter and Traditional public schools are one in the same and generally go about the curricula, staffing and parent involvement and different way in which one works and the other is a continued work-in-process.

Why Doesn’t it Matter?

nfs5 — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:37:28 +0000

Special Education? Mathematics? Until now educators did not hold much of an opinion on how math should be handled in special education classrooms. Research has shown that this matter hasn’t been a major concern of study for educators. Why doesn’t it matter? Is it due to students in the United States being in the lowest percentile? Clearly all students must learn to comprehend and apply the mathematical concepts during the course of their lives. Is it that educators don’t care? A percentage of students perform based on the mood and drive of the instructor. What effective techniques can be used in order to get the strategic methods known as math across to our students? Research that has been performed shares limited techniques on how to effectively get mathematical concepts across such as: apply the concept to yourself, reflect on how you comprehend math and how this can vary amoung your students. Use props (counting blocks or bears), personalize the questions asked and relate the content to the real world. Although these aren’t the techniques expected; they lead us to know that their is a lot of work needed to be done.

Hello world!

nfs5 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:54:34 +0000

Welcome to blogs.njit.edu. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!