Papers by Beth Rajan Sockman
One of the current trends in education is one-to-one computing or "ubiquitous computing". In orde... more One of the current trends in education is one-to-one computing or "ubiquitous computing". In order for a teacher to use technology to its fullest, researchers and practitioners believe that teachers engage in a facilitative teaching style. However, the majority of teachers have not experienced the kind of teaching that they are expected to employ. As a result, this study explored seven teachers' perceptions of their development toward facilitation in one-to-one computing environments. Administrators recommended teachers who were making good progress toward facilitation, created project based learning environments, and were inventive toward their curriculum. Using a comparative case study method, six teacher themes were developed, and insights into administrators' views were parsed. The themes were: external forces influenced teachers' perception of classroom needs; beginning small trials reinforced beliefs about teaching and learning; student observations and structural constraints modified instruction; moving toward project based approaches; overcoming hurdles for project implementation; and, teachers developed their identity but were enhanced with professional support. Throughout all themes, teachers had a disposition, which encouraged experimentation. In addition, teachers felt safe to experiment within their schools and benefited from collaboration. From this study, I have gained a better understanding of how teachers transitioned, and what is needed to become a teacher facilitator with technology. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables.
Teaching and Teacher Education, 2008
TechTrends, 2016
This study determined the usefulness of digital comic creation with 77 graduate students in a tea... more This study determined the usefulness of digital comic creation with 77 graduate students in a teacher technology course. Students completed an assigned reading and created digital comics that addressed technology integration concerns in the schools and society. Using practical action research, 77 student-created comics were analyzed. The findings suggested that digital comic creation had unique characteristics for critical reflection of text, since comic genres encourage multiple meanings, juxtaposing ideas, humor, and counterintuitive punch lines. Due to their inherent nature, comics supplied a safe medium for writing stories regarding uncomfortable concepts, potentially providing a useful way to support teacher professional growth.
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Papers by Beth Rajan Sockman