November 11, 2008
Weeks 11 & 12 Reflections: On Results, Discussions, Tweaking and Presentation Beginnings…
Week 11:
Before diving into my final section, the Discussion, I took another look at my conversation about data collection then added a conversational piece about my timeline. I think the text and the tables together provide a better picture than either could do alone. I hope it’s going to be OK to include those tables! While writing the timeline section, I was really glad that I looked at the actual school calendar and set out the evaluation schedule as if I were really conducting it. That made it easy to explain and discuss the timeline of the evaluation.
I’d been waiting as well for some input or discussion on my Results section that I posted. I began to wonder if “no news was good news” because that’s pretty much what I got – no takers on a response to my post. Then Kona who never disappoints took a look. She really helped me resolve an issue I’d not quite felt comfortable about – how to address myself in the paper. She said usually instead of I people refer to “the evaluator” or “primary investigator”. That made sense. I had a little trouble going back and changing what I’d written but that was OK… I needed to take another look and it kind of forced me to do that a bit more closely. So – that done, I intend to look back again after its finished and I’ve had some time for it to settle in… Just to make sure it’s just as it should be.
The Discussion section was the hardest to start. Should I just look at a variety of possible scenarios? Is there a way to make this more “real”? Then I thought – wait a minute, I have some actual, current data! We’ve been gathering survey data for the writing of our current tech plan and while not all of that data applies, some of it could be pertinent. Also, I do have lab stats collected that I could look at as well – a lot of them. So, I decided to approach it in a couple of ways and combine some possibilities and some probabilities (using actual data). One look would be at what current data, though incomplete, indicated in terms of a direction to go. Because that data is incomplete, there would be most likely a variety of possibilities and different directions to take. So the plan at that point was to do some analyzing of data in terms of my specific evaluation and see where that leads.
Well, that wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped! I started a couple different times. I couldn’t get focused. I wrote parts for the end, then parts for the middle, then stepped back and called a halt! Finally I decided to take a very careful look at what data I had and actually write about the data itself. That really helped me focus. Once that fell together, I started a list of ideas and reactions and possibilities. Then I grouped them into categories and tackled a few. As those sections began to flow, I’d have another thought and add it to my list. Gradually the paragraphs of ideas grew as my list shortened as I crossed out items I’d discussed. I’m not sure it’s what I was “supposed” to do or what it was “supposed” to look like. I sure hope so! Plus, isn’t this a ground breaking kind of semester with us being the “first” to write this way? (One can hope.) In any case, I feel solid about what I wrote. I know my evaluation is a bit different than many of my cohorts’ as theirs are more specific in nature than mine. Also, I have some actual data which most likely they do not. In any case, my plan is to post it and see what happens! If nothing else, I have learned a ton and have gotten a lot of great insights into technology in the district in which I work. That can only be a “good thing”!
Feelin' Good!
Week 12:
This week my goal was my presentation. I’d thought about it a lot and hoped to take a not-so-heavy approach – and keep the text minimal and to the point. That, of course, was not as easy as planned but I think definitely worth the trouble. After all, I have my finished paper with all the long drawn-out details. This presentation is to be relatively brief, and I remember past presentations going very quickly. My goal was to do this one a bit differently.
I began by looking for some pictures. After all, once you pick your PowerPoint background, what’s left but the clipart! Of course, after looking at pictures I had to go back and rethink my background or theme. It really was difficult not just trying to put everything in my report in my presentation. No way that’s going to work in the amount of time we have! So, in the end, I decided to paint a picture of the computer lab system I’m evaluating, look at the evaluation design as a whole, then discuss the “results”. We spent a lot of time posting questions – interview questions & survey questions – as well as commenting on them and rewriting them, so I think everyone has a feel for those. So, I left them out! I can certainly produce them if anyone asks or if they’re needed…
So now I’m whittling the presentation down and tweaking it. I’d really like to present it within five minutes and not feel rushed or like I didn’t get to portions I wanted to say. I have a feeling it will be a work in progress in any case… Once we post our final projects for people to discuss, most likely there’ll be more changes.
I for one REALLY appreciated the break last week. It kept us all from feeling like this poor guy who’s definitely in need of some R and R!
In need of a break...
Pam
