Pauline’s Blog

Probably one of the hardest things at the moment for me is refining my questions into something both manageable and meaningful. I have reworked my questions again this morning and tried to add some Aims for my research - what is it that I am really trying to achieve with this research. Project title: Classroom Blogs: An evaluation of the effectiveness of using a classroom blog as a means of enhancing home/school partnerships. Research Question: In what ways can the use of classroom blogs be used to enhance home/school partnerships.? Sub Questions: 

1. What are the elements of a successful partnership?

2. What kinds of partnerships could schools be fostering with their parent community?

3. How do parents feel about partnerships with their child’s school?

4. What are the features and advantages of using Web 2.0 tools for communication?

5. What value is there in using classroom blogs in terms of communication, interaction and community building?

6. What barriers are there for parents in accessing and contributing to classroom blogs?

 Aims of the Research: 

1. To investigate features of successful home/school partnerships.

2. To investigate the value of using Web 2.0 tools as a means of communication with parents.

3. To uncover parent perceptions about partnership in relation to their child’s school and teacher and their perceived needs.

4. To find out whether using a classroom blog enhances partnerships between home and school. 

I need to narrow down my research questions now so that I can get started on the Literature Review with a bit more focus. I am always keen for any feedback, comments, new ideas on this. 

Project topic:Classroom Blogs: An evaluation of the effectiveness of using a classroom blog as a means of enhancing home/school partnerships. 

Main research Question:In what ways can the use of classroom blogs be used to enhance home/school partnerships.? 

Sub Questions:What is the value of using classroom blogs in terms of communication, interaction and community building?

What are the barriers to using classroom blogs?

What kinds of partnerships should schools be fostering with their parent community?

What are the features and advantages of using Web 2.0 tools for communication? 

What are the elements of a successful partnership?

Possible QuestionsI have come up with to answer my research question include:
What kind of partnership do parents want with their children’s schools?
What are the benefits of using classroom blogs?
What are the barriers: for parents, for teachers, for students?
What percentage of parents access the internet?
Do all parents consent to their children having internet access and having their name/photo/work etc online - does this create issues for the classroom teacher if a parent does not give permission?
How do parents perceive home/school partnerships in the context of a classroom blog i.e. does it make any difference?Who is accessing the blog? Why? How?What are the features/advantages/benefits of using Web 2.0 tools? What are the roadblocks?
What is the value of using blogs in terms of communication, interaction, community building?
What does the Ministry have to say about parent partnerships?
How does the Ministry’s strategy for ICT fit with using classroom blogs?
Why do some people take up blogging while others don’t - motivating factors?
Who is the intended audience for the classroom blog? Will it create other community links?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of blogging? - for teachers, for parents, for students?
Does it make a difference if parents can contribute to the blog? - some are read only.
Does the blog extend to the wider family group e.g. grandparents?
What percentage of parents access the classroom blog?
What are the reasons for accessing/not accessing the blog?
What do parents see as the benefits/disadvantages of the classroom blog?Do parents feel that using blogs has improved the partnership between home and school?
How else could home/school partnerships be improved? (or do they need to improve?)

I am trying to refine my research question and have come up with
“In what ways do the use of classroom blogs enhance home/school partnerships. I see this primarily as a piece of qualitative research. I intend to survey all parents in a class to see whether they use the classroom blog and to follow this up with semi structured interviews with a small number of parent volunteers. I would also like to interview the classroom teacher about her intended purpose in setting up the blog, positive outcomes, barriers, and negative outcomes.