NAEP

Aside from the results of the NAEP scores being depressing the assignment seemed easy enough.  Maybe I understand this process.  The previous assignment went well, I'll wait for the score on this before I get too excited.  In the process I have found some very good YouTube videos that explain how to use Excel and the Data Analysis toolpak.  Adding charts to a paper has been fun to experiment with as well.  The last few weeks have inspired me to take a course on Excel as soon as my Masters is finished.  I really wouldn't need to pay for a course though, YouTube has a series of videos(200+) that would do the same thing.  I find it odd that in all my years of teaching, and with all of the emphasis being placed on testing, results, and data analysis, that I haven't seen any t-test information presented.  This seems like a very valid and impartial way of presenting data.  Maybe it's the impartial part that schools don't like.

NETS-T
3a, b, c, d
5a, b, c

Appropriate a You Tube Video

I used RealPlayer on my computer to download the following video: How to Sum up in Excel- this is the original URL.  I then went to my YouTube account, selected "Upload", went into my "Videos" and double-clicked.  YouTube took care of the rest.  I added tags to the video as I waited for it to upload.  Extremely simple and extremely useful.  This is the URL after I uploaded the video to my YouTube account: How to Sum up in Excel- Saved version

NETS-T
1a, b, c, d
2a, b, c, d
3a, b, c, d
4a, c, d
5a, b, c, d
*Something I've noticed during the semester is that I tend to believe there are more NETS being covered with some of the smaller, shorter, easier assignments than with the more lengthy and difficult activities.  Just goes to show that if you can teach a teacher to just use one small piece of technology that they can transform their classroom and their teaching style.

YouTube account

My YouTube account

Very easy to do.  On YouTube I selected "Create an Account", entered gmail information, clicked a few boxes, and it was done.

NETS-T:
3a, b, c, d
4a, c, d
5a, c

APA

My paper may be viewed here: APA

NETS-T
3a, b, c, d
4a, c, d
5a, b, c, d

I used the OWL website as well as the Cornell Library site, as a second opinion, while completing the paper.  Most issues were easily overcome with the exception of my headers.  The header on the cover page is supposed to have "Running Header:" in front of the title.  I could not get that to appear on the Title page without appearing on subsequent pages.  The General Format page of the OWL site was particularly helpful.  There were many links on the left side of the page where answers to questions were able to be found.  Writing a formal paper for research results isn't something that classroom teachers do on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly basis.  Is that good, is that bad, is it indifferent?  I don't know.  I do think it's a good skill to have in the bag and I'm glad I'll have this blog to refer back to if I ever need the information.  I have also made the two websites I referrenced "favorites" on my computer.