Middle+School+(Gr+6-8)

//Welcome to **West Chester's Technology in Middle School** **Education** page! This page contains annotated bibliographies, research papers, and references/links to educational technology resources that you can use to integrate technology into your classroom. ENJOY!//

toc =Annotated Bibliographies=

Document Camera Research (Annotated Bibliography)

Susan Brooks-Young is an education consultant in Lopez Island, WA. Brooks points out that teachers must become accustomed to using technology before implementation in the classroom begins. Teachers new to document cameras often focus first on the fact that the equipment makes it easier for them to show objects or text to students, or to demonstrate a lesson. It isn’t until later that the teachers fully embrace those capabilities that facilitate the shift from teacher-centered to student-centered learning environments.
 * Brooks-Young, Susan (2007). //Are Document Cameras the Next Big Thing?// Lopez Island, WA: THE Journal. Retrieved from:** [|**http://thejournal.com**]

The article discusses delivery of educational services in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, through the Student Technology and Education Proficiency Initiative (STEP). Initially funded through the No Child Left Behind Act, the program provides resources for home-bound students including laptop computers, webcams in the classroom, and reduced rate internet service for low-income families using the program. Additional tools provided to STEP classrooms include document cameras, interactive whiteboards and projectors, as well as a technology coach to provide guidance and support in implementing the program. The program also provides classroom educational technology to support projects such as investment of a hypothetical $100,000 in an online stock market portfolio.
 * Fox, Christine (2009). //More Than Machines//. THEjournal, Vol.36, Issue 6. Retrieved from** [|**http://web.ebscohost.com**]**.**

Within the sphere of education, navigating throughout a digital world has become a matter of necessity for the developing professional, as with the advent of Document Camera Technology (DCT). This study explores the pedagogical implications of implementing DCT; to see if there is a relationship between teachers' comfort with DCT and to the self-efficacy beliefs of teachers. The literature describes our educational system "at risk," comprised of digital "natives" and "immigrants" each challenged by a culture of "disconnected" digital-kids. Narrative inquiry thematically analyzes the experience of teachers on the cusp of Technology Integration (TI). The "singularity" of DCT integration and the mediation of big-screen-instructional practices were found shifting the paradigm for teacher pedagogy in a digital era.
 * Hoge, Robert Joaquin (2010). //A Digital Odyssey: Exploring Document Camera Technology and Computer Self-Efficacy in a Digital Era, 40-69. Retrieved from//** [|**//http://www.eric.ed.gov//**] **//((ED509434).//**

Annotated Bibliography 1. Paul, I. (2009). Netbook Popularity Reshapes Tech Sector. Retrieved January 26, 2009 []

2. Chen, B X. (2008). Tiny Notes Net Big Gains: The Netbook Revolution. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from []

3. Horowitz, M. (2008). Defensive Computing Michael Horowitz takes on digital safety. Retrieved October 12, 2008 from []

Wiki research site

1. Paul, I. (2009). Netbook Popularity Reshapes Tech Sector. Retrieved January 26, 2009 from [] This website was insightful and provided a nice general overview of Netbooks. Provides information on the different operating systems used by Netbooks while providing facts about how Netbooks have increased over the years. 2. Chen, B X. (2008). Tiny Notes Net Big Gains: The Netbook Revolution. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from [] This site provided general thought about a person that purchased a Netbook. Provide researched based figures about the cost challenging manufactures face. 3. Horowitz, M. (2008). Defensive Computing Michael Horowitz takes on digital safety. Retrieved October 12, 2008 from [] Explains and provided information about what a Netbook is as well as the capabilities. Breaks down the differences between Netbooks and laptops.

Technology in the Middle Grades (6-8) __WebQuests in the Classroom__ This article was an introduction on WebQuests by their creator, Bernie Dodge. He outlined his vision for the effectiveness of WebQuests in the classroom, and their use in fostering critical thinking through performance assessments.
 * Dodge, B. (1997, May 5). Some Thoughts About WebQuests. Retrieved February 7, 2010, from San Diego State University website: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/ about_webquests.html**

This article was a longitudinal study on an actual WebQuest in the classroom. The study followed six 5th-grade students doing a unit on Environmental Sustainability, and their teacher used this as a an interdisciplinary approach in thematic teaching. The WebQuest was long-term, and included multiple sub-projects, such as role-playing and writing assignments. The article was overall very positive about the use of WebQuests in the classroom.
 * Ikpeze, C. H., & Boyd, F. B. (2007, April). Web-Based Inquiry Learning: Facilitating Thoughtful Literacy with WebQuests. The Reading Teacher, 60(7), 644-654.**

In this article, David Lipscomb examines the use of a WebQuest in a middle school Social Studies classroom. The WebQuest he studied was used as a follow-up on a Civil War unit. He pointed out the potential challenges in choosing or formulating a WebQuest, and gave suggestions on how to apply their use to multiple facets of curriculum.
 * Lipscomb, G. (2003, January/February). "I Guess It Was Pretty Fun": Using WebQuests in the Middle School Classroom. The Clearing House, 76(3), 152-155.**

A**nnotated Bibliography** Alhaldi, Bassem, et al. "Virtual Education: Reality or Virtuality." __Society for Infomation Technology & Teacher Education Conference__. San Francisco, 1999. six. This article summarizes different aspects of issues that remote learning organizations deal with in science and technology courses. Distance learning presents unique issues for science and technology courses when compared to other disciplines like the humanities. Cross, Tina and Victor Cross. "Scapel or Mouse? A Statistical Comparision of Real & Virtual Frog Dissections." __The American Biology Teacher__ (August 2004): 408-411. This article summarizes results from the assessment of four high school classes over two years on the success of studying virtual vs organic specimens in understanding frog antomy. Keller, Harry. "Science Labs: Virtual Versus Simulated." __T*H*E Journal__ (May 2008): four. Defines several types of virtual or remote learning tools. Defines the differences between virtual and simulated tools. This article also describes other types of remote teaching tools such as models and databases.
 * Virtual Labs in the Science Classroom**

Raineri, Deanna. "Virtual laboratories enhance traditional undergraduate biology laboratories." __Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education__ (2001): 160-162. Defines several types of virtual or remote learning tools. Defines the differences between virtual and simulated tools. In this summary, discussion of how a tool called ilabs are utilized in college level biology courses.

"Using Multimedia Tools to Help Students Learn Science." n.d. www.cited.org. 15 July 2010. "Virtual Science Demostrations and and Virtual Science Labs." n.d. www.pnwboces.org. 15 July 2010 .

This web site summarizes research done by teachers in New York that reviews a number of web sites that contain virtual elements. It is designed as a teacher resource to support science curriculum through the sixth grade. This is a very teacher friendly and oriented site with many practical resources for a teacher to use.

Wasserman, Louis. "Compiled Perspectives on STEM Education." n.d http://www.nsf.gov. 15 July 2010.

This study discusses concerns with STEM education, and how the current system does not fully expose talented and gifted students to the possibilities of study or careers in STEM. The article proposes some solutions to address this shortcoming.