Summer’s Research Plan

Aesthetic:
• I would like my project to have a space theme because the students will be learning about space
• Easy to navigate site
• Not too distracting so that students can still learn
• Easy to read

Historical:
• http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/te0cont.htm: Annotated collection of links to resources related to using or planning to use technology in schools.
• http://www.wested.org/techpolicy/recapproach.html: Implementing Technology in Education: Recent Findings from Research and Evaluation Studies
• http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cCorp.dspEffectiveK12: Reviews on the site and of interactive science (and math) simulations
• Essentials of Educational Technology: (Part of the Essentials of Classroom Teaching Series) (Paperback) by James E. Schwartz

Conceptual/Theoretical:
• http://otec.uoregon.edu/arguments_against.htm: Arguments against using IT in education.
• http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Qa/archives/Educational_Technology/Effects_of_Technology/negeffects.html: Drawbacks of technology in education.
• http://www.hudtech.net/Drawbacks-of-Technology%20.html: Drawbacks of technology in education.

Peers:
• http://www.edubloggercon.com/: Blog for education/tech fields
• http://www.explorelearning.com/: Interactive science simulations

Technical:
• I need to learn the required skills (Colorado Model Content Standards) that students need to learn for the age that my project is geared towards (3rd-5th Grades)
• I need to refresh myself in CSS skills for designing the templates for the website
• I need to learn how to record audio and to download it to the computer (I already know how to edit it)
• I need to learn the most effective way(s) to introduce new information to elementary aged students (particularly the way to create sites that are easy to navigate for young students)