Data Collection Strategies – Value and Appropriateness

Data Collection Strategies – Value and Appropriateness

EDU 675 Change Leadership for Differentiated Educ. Environment

Based on the Center for Parents Information and Resources, learning disability is a common term that defines special kinds of (what I call) learning obstacles. A learning disability may cause one to have problems absorbing or comprehending information and using specific abilities. The skills that are mostly affected are reading, speaking math and listening (NICHCY, 2015)

Daycares are normally known for having age groups ranging from 6 weeks to 12 years old; which comes with tasks on meeting each students need based on their developmental stage. It is my belief that this is a popular problem in other daycares and my goal is to find resolutions for my program. The meaning of this study is to target, sustain and develop learning abilities and functions by use of technology along with accommodations and modifications for Diamond (a student in the daycare program) who is diagnosed with Intellectual Disability that affects her comprehension ability, writing and math skills. The purpose of this study is to find help for her and to ensure that the teacher understands her educational needs.

After further research, I learned that dysgraphia is a brain condition that causes inability to write coherently (Patino, 2014). My plan is to research and find approaches that aids in helping to accommodate and modify her learning. I will do this by applying technology to help in the improvement of difficult tasks that she may have related to reading and establish a plan to help address those math disabilities that are part of her Intellectual disability. This strategy will help Diamond to direct her attention on learning and not her disability. This research will also identify any other disorders that she may have, shows ways on developing her confidence in learning and concentrate on other encounters as they arise.

My goal is acquire as much knowledge as I can about Intellectual Disability so that I can be effective as a teacher, administrator and offer the needed resources for all students. Learning more about Intellectual Disability will reduce the obstacles that we have been facing. Diamond is an 11 year old student, on a third grade math and reading level; which causes her anxiety and embarrassment when other children are aware of her disabilities. Due to this issue, I must identify ways to improve her skills in comprehension and her daily life skills.

Research Questions

Forms of Data

1. What are signs & symptoms of learning disabilities
2. What are ways to help in handling diversity and disabilities in a daycare program?
3. What are ways for families to manage the diversity and disabilities that occurs?
4. What are some known programs that help small programs handle diversity and challenges?
5. What kind of modifications and accommodations are needed to address the child’s disability?
6. What tools will be utilized as an effort to evaluate the student’s learning on daily skills?

Mills states,”that action research is any systematic review directed by the teacher researchers, school counselors and principals that are in an instructional environment to assemble news on how their individual school function and the methods used for teacher and student learning. This data is assembled with the objective of increasing understanding, advancing practice, implementing positive changes in the school environment and increasing student outcome. For an example, Qualitative approaches may include conducting face to face interviews and making observations (Mills, 2014).

I would begin my research questions regarding Intellectual Disability, ways to manage diversity and disabilities that exist to focus on the importance of the research. Next, I would improve Diamond’s abilities by doing face to face interaction exercises with minor questions to see where we need to begin concerning her abilities.

Another form of data that I would consider is a timed observation. A time observation on Diamond without her being aware that she is being timed will provide me an opportunity to monitor her abilities without added pressure. I can associate my strategies based on my observation. My focus area is student learning and assisting students with their disabilities by ensuring they reach their full potential in not only education but also their daily life skills. I will make an effort to modify and accommodate the way I distribute her assignments. I will determine if they should be increased or decreased and when to utilize technology.

I will introduce her to the nine principles of change leadership. I will make certain that she understands that change is very important to achieve. The number two principle enables you to target that which needs to be improved in the classroom. The third principle change is systematic. The fourth is difficulty. The fifth is leadership and administration. The sixth is knowing that school culture must change. Principle seven is “your actions speak louder than your words. Principle eight connects to the community. Lastly, principle nine is to sustain results based orientation (Tomlinson and Allan, 2000).

Another data tool that I will utilize is my research on Diamond. I will select questions on math, writing and language; this will help me in understanding if her progressed increased or decreased and what tool was successful. I will be able to further measure through assessment. This will give me present indications and suggestions of her learning abilities.

Value of Data

The value of data forms that I will include is imperative because with the lack of elevations, exercises, questions, surveys and observations will provide the necessary tools need in my research for accurate feedback. This also gives me the opportunity to decide on proper strategies and technology I can incorporate to assist with Diamond’s ability to communicate effectively while writing or interacting with math or reading skills. The data that I will utilize, will allow me the chance to maneuver between strategies based on the need of Diamond’s capability of processing information.

Since the ultimate goal is to improve our knowledge on Intellectual Disability, the both of us will benefit by being able to work together and understanding the process as a team based on our findings. This will be beneficial to other teachers and family by providing them with the proper tools and technology to assist Diamond without her feeling anxiety and embarrassment due to her disability.

Data Collection Tool

References

Buczynski, S., & Hansen, C.B. (2014). The Change Leader in Education: Roles and Strategies in the Differentiated Environment. Bridgepoint Education.

Community Child Care Association. (2004). Working with mixed age groups. http:www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/mixedagegroup on March 9, 2018.

Erica Patino. (2014) Understood for Learning & Attention Issues. Retrieved on March 26, 2018 from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning:disabilities/dysgraphia

Mills, G.E. (2014). Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher (5th ed). Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

NICHCY. (2013) Center for Parent Information and Resources. Learning Disabilities. Retrieved on March 26, 2018 from http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository