Web Conferences

I know that there are probably many students at Lamar that utilize and need the web conferences for the courses.  They can be a great way to talk live with the professor(s).  I have participated in very few of the web conferences while studying at Lamar.  I feel that they are somewhat ineffective as so many questions are posed at once that the professors cannot always keep up and participants will have to repeat the questions.   Sometimes participants use the conference time as a social hour and those who just a question or two can have their time wasted.  I will usually just email my TA if I need anything answered as they are proficient in answering any questions that I may have. I hate to be negative about a tool that is probably beneficial to others, but it is not something that I use. 

Update on Action Research Plan

In my action research project, I am looking to evaluate the effectiveness of the Behavior Modification Room (BMR) on my campus.  BMR is what we call ISS at Bea Salazar.  It seems that sometimes students are placed in BMR and they quickly adjust their negative behaviors and return to the classroom without incident.  There are other student however, who have multiple placements in BMR.  I want to look at how students’ progress academically, in having good attendance, and behaviorally while in BMR.  I have begun tracking students that have already been placed in BMR this school year.  There have only been two students to date, but I am recording if they complete the 3 day placement on time, if their grades drop or increase during their placement, and whether or not they receive referrals during their placement.  I will need more time and student data before I can make an informed judgment.  I have also begun some research at what programs we could implement to enhance our current program or possibly some alternatives to BMR as a discipline tool.  I have looked at CHAMPS being a way to look at better classroom management to prevent some of the student behaviors that cause BMR placement.  I have also read up on mediation between student and teacher with a school counselor or social worker as another step before BMR placement.  I am interested it trying to incorporate service projects as an alternative but I need to conduct more research and talk to my school’s administration team as to how we can implement service learning without jeopardizing our school’s structure and non-negotiables.  I hope to have more data to act on in the next two months so that I can stream line my research and create an ISS program that will create student success.