Summary

AR Capstone Trailer

This Action Research project was put together to help students with special needs learn “Functional Life Skills” using Web 2.0 tools. As a special education teacher the challenge is to meet your students needs the best way possible. A literature review was written and discussed the need for open communication, understanding of cultural backgrounds, flexibility, and creativity with transition instructional methods could lead to a smooth transition to adult life with a disability. Test, Mazzotti, Mustian, Fowler, Kortering, & Köhler (2009) found that family involvement was a serious predictor of post school success in employment. This project leads us to the conclusion that open communication between school and home, is important when it comes to students with special needs learning everyday functional life skills. The challenge as a teacher is to present these skills in such a way that students can be fully engaged as they learn these important life skills.  The review also said that using the multiple intelligence theory by Gardner gave the teacher ways to present material to students utilizing the differed areas of intelligence.

The Action Research project continued with students learning to use Web 2.0 tools as a new way to engage students through technology. The goal was to teach some Web 2.0 tools that would allow students to learn material using visuals, and auditory, methods of learning. The tools were taught using material from the general curriculum in the areas of science, social studies and language arts. Students learned how to use Popplet, Word It Out, Comic Life, and Voice Threads. Modifications were to accommodate their disabilities. Students learned how to use Popplet and were fully engaged in the activity. The second part of the project moved on to teaching a specific functional life skill by using a Web 2.0 tool. Students used Popplet to learn the steps to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Students were given and pretest in Popplet to list the proper steps and were given a posttest through a class game.

Data in cycle one proved that my students were able to learn how to use Web 2.0 tools. Students learned how to use Popplet, and Google Docs. Google Docs was a learning experience for myself, I soon found out that if they all try to work on the document together they could not tell who’s answers were who’s, so I colored coded each answer. Students proved that they understood what a descriptive adjective was by filling out a pre and post survey. Students also indicated that they like to work with Web 2.0 Tools.

Data in cycle two found my students learning Popplet, Word It Out, Comic Life and VoiceThreads. A Functional Life Skill making a grilled cheese sandwich was broken apart and illustrated in both a Popplet and VoiceThreads. Students were successful in listing and illustrating how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. To assess their knowledge I created a game called: The First Annual Grilled Cheese Cook Off Relay Race. The race had two teams perform each step to make a grilled cheese sandwich in a relay format. The students loved it and proved that they could make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. I posted the video as part of my Leadership Project presentation.

The AR Project was not perfect by any means and some changes were made along the way. The original thought was offer parents more help with the transition process in cycle 2. During cycle one it was discovered that getting responses from parents was a difficult task. The responses received came from families that are fully engaged in their student’s life and were from financially stable families. Families with lower income did not answer surveys either electronically or by notes home. The focus of the project changed from transition information for parents to teaching functional life skills using Web 2.0 tools as a method of instruction. The class really caught onto the use of the tools and really enjoyed it.

The plan for the future is set up an LMS, either Schoology or Edmodo, and continue to teach more Functional Life Skills with the Web 2.0 tools, video, music, games, and hands on experiences.