Application 3, Research Questions

After making some modifications, my problem statement will be the following: I plan to determine if technology use with third grade science students raises benchmark scores.

The research questions that I will address are as follows:

1. What teacher centered technologies will be used with the science instruction?
2. What student centered technologies will be used with the science instruction?
3. What types of standard science instruction will be used?
4. How will the benchmark data be collected and interpreted from use of technology tools vs. non technology tools?

I have decided that the mixed method, exploratory design will work best for the literature review. I feel that collecting the qualitative data first will help promote the quantitative data I am looking for in the benchmark scores. McMillan & Schumacher (2008), stated, "By using a qualitative component in the beginning, researchers are able to use the language and emphasis on different topics of the subjects in the wording of items for the survey".

Reference:

McMillan, J., & Schumacher, S. (2008) Research in Education: Evidence-Based Inquiry (Laureate custom edition). Boston: Pearson.

Application 2, General Problem Statement

I plan to determine if technology use on third grade science students raises benchmark scores. I will also plan to record the monthly benchmark scores of the third graders to determine which type of instruction is more effective.

• Who: Third grade students who are learning science.
• What: Use of technology with science instruction vs. standard science instruction.
• Why: Impact on achievement in Science.

All students in elementary school are required to learn science. However, students are not given the end of year state test until they are in grades third through fifth. It has been my observation that some third grade students are not prepared for the end of the year state test.

McMillan and Schumacher (2006), stated, "A research problem is significant when it aids in the development theory, knowledge, or practice". Benchmark testing has shown that their are students that are not understanding the information given to them in their lessons. I plan on developing lesson plans that give students the opportunity to use technology tools with the unit. When test results become available, I will compare the scores of students using the technology tools with those from another class using standard instructional methods. When the data is collected, I will share the results with the third grade teachers.

Reference

McMillan, J.H., & Schumacher, S. (2006). Research in Education: Evidence-Based Inquiry (Laureate custom edition). Boston: Pearson.