Inquiry Project Proposal
Baha Sadr, International Institute of Rhode Island
1. Describe the problem / question you are posing, and the thinking/events that have led you to pose this question/problem.
Since I work with beginner students, I have asked the following questions :
- How can I use computers to assist beginner level students to master the requirements for the Citizenship test
( U.S. History, Government, and English language skills ) ?
- What kind of computer generated lessons can I develop that are useful and meaningful for beginner ESL/Citizenship students?
- How can the lessons be interactive, interesting and learner-centered ?
Events/thinking that led into this question :
- Basic need for immigrants to interact in American or any society. - Importance of computers in communication today. - By using this technology it is possible to enhance instruction in both English language skills and U.S. History and other requirements for the Citizenship exam. As well as computer skills.
- Computer is an underutilized tool that can enhance teaching methods . - Students have demonstrated much enthusiasm for computer-based instruction , they find it amusing and fun.
- Currently there's no appropriate citizenship software or computer lesson plans available for beginning Citizenship/ESL students.
2. What do you hope to accomplish as a result of exploring your question/problem?
- Hope to expand the ways of preparing students to master the requirements for the citizenship test.
- Increase computer skills
- Use technology to improve study skills and make learning fun and interactive.
- Help students learn to use new technology such as the Internet to expand their knowledge in searching and gathering information through other existing sources.
- Finally to improve classroom teaching skills through using technology to develop new teaching materials.
3. What actions do you plan to undertake in order to address your question/problem ?
January : Expand knowledge of appropriate computer programs to develop new teaching materials.
February : Make 4 CD-Rom based lesson plans that can be used in the computer lab or by students on home computers.
March - May : field test the new materials
May : Prepare a report on project and share findings with other practioners.
4. How will you evaluate your progress with this project ?
a. Successful creation of new computer-based lesson plans.
b. Documentation of student responses to new material
c. Measure effectiveness of teaching materials through pre-and post Citizenship skills and BEST test
d. Keep a log of project and record accomplishments.
5. How will you share the results of your work with colleagues at the program(s) in which you intend to conduct the inquiry ?
The results of the inquiry will be shared with other practitioners and a general sharing session and disseminated through the LRRI website.
interim report
The Main purpose for creating this project has been the basic need for Immigrants to Interact in the American society, and since computers play an important role in today's society, it seems to be vitally important to introduce this technology to the students so that they are encouraged to use it and learn how to obtain further information accordingly, to enhance their knowledge.
To achieve the above , a certain program ( software ) using Microsoft Power point was created and installed on each computer, which consisted of series of slides, beginning with a question which is narrated and an image of some sort will appear to help the students to come up with the answer, then either automatically or on the mouse click the answer will appear and this format goes for the rest of the History and the Government questions.
This project has enabled the students to learn the basics of how to operate a computer such as:
Recognizing the IconsThe International Institute was recently able to purchase a digital Language lab, which has great capacity in presenting such programs on a large screen and communicate with the students through headsets and finally asking the questions orally.
Maneuvering and Clicking the Mouse
Using the option Menus
Scanning through the Slides
Ever since we I used the lab, and observing the improvements that the
students were making in learning English, I had to stop going to the computer
lab, because I feel that the students are learning much more although it
seems like I am taking a step away from my original project which was to
familiarize the students with computer, but I feel the language
lab ( listening ) is more useful, and still I use the same program
( Microsoft Power Point ) , So the students are still in touch
with the Computer Technology, but from another percpective.
I have recently added the Visual elements by using a Video Camera .
By role-playing and Mocking the Citizenship Interview, the students get
a chance to see themselves being interviewed, and learn about their
weaknesses which should help them to gain confidence and prepare
for the actual interview.
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