DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology
Classroom Action Research: A Case Study of AVID Strategies Merging with 21st Century Technology
Kevin Cope
Touro University California, School of Education
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology
Introduction
Background and Need
In 2007 my school district introduced a program called AVID (Advancement Via Individual
Determination). I was intrigued, not by the program itself, but by the students they were targeting. These
students wanted to be future first generation college graduates. I was to help coach them using AVID
strategies that would help students be successful in all of their academic classes. Although my academic
background was far different I still felt passionate about helping this group of students. This was my whole
reason to go into teaching profession in the first place. I enjoy helping kids getting through the road blocks
in their educational journey!
During an AVID training at the school district I heard a statistic that surprised me. In 2007 only
seven Latino students graduated at Napa High School had their A-G requirements. Napa High School
usually has 600 students graduate a year. Nearly half the graduating class was Latino and four year
universities don’t accept an individual unless you have these needed A-G classes. It seems as if there is a
need for an educational coach to target group of students reach their academic goal.
Statement of the Problem
I started noticing a trend my first year incorporating AVID strategies. The AVID strategies were OK
however lacked year long engagement for an elective class for students ages 12-14. Students were losing a
“fun” elective class in order to take this one. I needed engaging technology applications that could enhance
the AVID strategy. The high school AVID coordinator also wanted middle school AVID students to
continue taking this class four more years. How could we enhance AVID strategies to increase engagement
and possibly retention?
Purpose of the Study
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology The purpose of the study is to see if AVID strategies easily merge with technology applications. The goal is
to increase student engagement using 21st century technology. I could think of many technology applications
that were not only engaging but were very practical for all ages and could be used in current classes. Our
school was also starting to incorporate Project Based Learning that infuses technology into the curriculum. It
seemed that AVID could support these classes by using strategies that could enhance what they were doing
in their core subjects.
Research Questions
Research Question 1. Will engagement increase when combining a specific AVID strategy called
“Meetings of the Minds” with a technology application called Google Document?
Collection of Data: I collected data using a Google document form. The questions were scaled and
allowed for both quantitative and qualitative analysis targeting student engagement.
Research Question 2. Will engagement increase combining a specific AVID strategy called
“Concept Mapping” with a technology application called Mindomo?
Collection of Data: I collected data using a Google document form. The questions were scaled and
allowed for both quantitative and qualitative analysis targeting student engagement.
Research Question 3. Will engagement increase combining a specific AVID strategy called
“problem/solution journal” with a technology application called stupflix.
Collection of Data: I collected data using Google document form. The questions were scaled and
allowed for both quantitative and qualitative analysis targeting student engagement.
Review of the Literature
Introduction
The majority of my research started from the AVID homepage which led me to research to other
educational links and literature. You will see from my review that the issue of technology infused in AVID
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology strategies is one that needs to be addressed. The need to incorporate technology into AVID is one that many
educators see as a must for the future of our kids.
Theme 1: The History and goals of AVID
The purpose of (AVID -Decade of College Dreams) comes from the perspective of those from the
AVID Institute. This web site wants to prove that AVID strategies work when integrated properly at a
school site. When students are given academic rigor and support, students can be academically successful.
The procedures are different depending if you teach an elective AVID class or if you are implementing
AVID strategies within your content classes. The results after 30 years of data collection are interesting.
First, AVID students usually come from minority backgrounds. Second, three out of four AVID graduates
get accepted to a four year college or university. Finally, there was an increase in enrollment in Algebra by
8th
grade AVID students. My analysis is that AVID helps first generation college students by supporting the
need of a road map to academic success. Having a teacher role model helps the students get around and
through hurdles in the education world.
The next literature review brought me to the website (AVID Elective Standards). This site was used to list
the AVID objectives by grade level. The site concentrates specifically on the AVID elective class for
seventh graders. The procedure allows teachers to create activities that include a tutor facilitated study group
plus motivational activities and academic success skills throughout the school week. Each week should
focus on one of the objectives from the AVID institute. This site does not include results of teachers who
use these AVID standards throughout their classroom. My analysis of this web-site is that the AVID program
has broken up strategies by grade level and rigor. This helps with teachers not repeating lessons year after
year in the AVID elective.
Theme 2: Results of studies about the effectiveness of AVID
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology I next looked at a (Sparks, S. 2011, 6) article to find data about if AVID is positively helping students.
The purpose of this case study analyzed how 9th
grade AVID students compared to their 9th
grade non-avid
counterparts in Chicago city schools. The procedure of the case study looked at the GPA of middle school
students over a three year period. The results were a mixed bag. There was no major difference between
AVID and non-AVID students when just analyzing the GPA. They did find that the AVID students did have
slightly better study habits than their peers. My analysis is AVID is difficult to track and analyze as a sub
group. The benefits may show up over a longer period of time.
What about data in other parts of the country? I read an article from (Dean, J. The Middle School
AVID student). The purpose of the case study was to investigate the relationship between students in AVID
and their academic performance. The procedure first used research from three middle schools in southern
California. The study used a mixed method of measuring attendance rates, overall grade point averages, and
scaled scores on the California State Test program. They would be compared to non-AVID students sharing
similar demographic and academic profiles. In addition there would be group interviews with teacher, AVID
participants, and parents of AVID participants. The results were mixed. There was truly no statistically
significant relationship between participation in AVID and academic performance. However the focus
groups unanimously rated AVID as being effective. There was agreement that it helped demonstrate their
potential in school. My analysis is that it is truly difficult to measure AVID strategies using hard data.
AVID might just be a community of people who want to feel a connection with like peers.
Theme 3: Current Technology Being Used with AVID Strategies
Next, I read about the use of technology in some AVID classrooms from (Knaus, B. 2009, 23. Teach
Paperless). The purpose of the article was to openly talk about the serious lack of technology built in the
AVID program. Only one of the forty-two objectives included the use of technology. The author mentions
that college graduate jobs use computers on an everyday basis. The procedure begins by having every
student be given a netbook to use at school and at home. The students use programs such as Wordle, active
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology expressions, etc as a means to use AVID strategies. The article did not give details about his results. I am
guessing by his enthusiasm that it is working to his satisfaction. My analysis is that the author is saying what
everybody is internally thinking about AVID; where is the technology? College readiness must incorporate
technology or be exposed as being good strategies without a pulse for the 21st century.
Finally I investigated an article called (AVID | Decades of College Dreams. AVID | Data & Results). The
purpose of this web site is to show how the AVID institute has been trying to create 21st century tools for the
educators. The procedures used were integrating WICOR strategies with college readiness skills. Using 21st
century tools such as LinkedIn, Edmodo, Facebook, and Twitter as extensions of the traditional AVID
program and allow interaction with community members, as well as past, current, and future AVID students.
I am unclear of the results from this article. It may just be too early to find research that backs up the use of
technology within the AVID system. My analysis is that AVID understands it needs to use technology more
with its strategies. That is why we are seeing a break out secession at an AVID conference on this web site.
Summary
My conclusion is simple. AVID strategies by themselves are fine strategies. They were introduced my
Mary Catherine Swanson in the 1980’s in San Diego. Her strategies have a nice foundation however now
need to be tweaked in the new millennium. They must be partnered with different technology applications
for all students to succeed and be college ready. I feel strongly that the future of AVID is dependent on the
incorporation of technology for future success.
Data Gathering
My data gatherings used in classroom action research include the use of a scaled engagement numbering
system. This allowed me to see if they were engaged or not using this technology application with the AVID
application. Next, I asked if this specific technology application could be used with other AVID strategies to
obtain data. Finally I allowed for comments to obtain qualitative data. This format allowed for simple data
that could easily be understood by my students.
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology
Student Work using Google doc’s merging with “meeting of the mind” AVID Strategy
Findings
My findings support my theory that engagement is high when AVID strategies are integrated with
technology applications. The level of engagement was high in each of my questionnaires to the roughly 30
students in my class. The scores averaged in the 4’s (engaging) for each of the paired AVID strategies with a
technology application. Students also identified 75% of the time that the technology application could also
be paired with another AVID strategy. I don’t have data to show the same AVID strategy paired with an
AVID strategy using pencil and paper. These differences would be needed in future studies.
Taking Action
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology My AVID site team will be looking over the data. The next step is to experiment with AVID strategies
with technology as well as AVID strategies without technology. We need to see if there is truly an
engagement factor difference between the two. If it is determined that there is a huge difference with
infusing technology with AVID strategies we will need to look at purchasing laptops for our AVID students.
We would also want to share our findings with other schools across our district and to Napa Learns. Napa
Learns may be able to help us purchase the needed amount of computers for our students. Finally I would
like to create a list of AVID strategies next to proven technology applications that work appropriately.
AVID strategies paired with Technology Applications Page
AVID Strategies Technology Applications
1. Carousel Brainstorming Google Doc’s
2. Concept Mapping Stupflix
3. Consultants Mindomo
4. Cornell Notes Prezi
5. Dialectical Journal Skype
6. Pair Share Blogger
7. Parking Lot GoAnimate
8. Philosophical Chairs Twitter
9. Quick writes ScreenR
10. Problem Solution Journal Evernote
11. Quick Speak Socrative
12. Four Corners Poll Everywhere
13. Jigsaw Google Maps
Conclusions
Finding the right wine for your food is often a dilemma in the Napa Valley. It could also be said that
finding the right computer application for an AVID strategy is an educational dilemma. Let’s pair AVID
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology strategies with engaging computer applications that helps students get over the hurdles in education. This
data shows that students not only find these pairings engaging but useful in other classes as well.
References
AVID | Decades of College Dreams. AVID | Data & Results. Retrieved April 5, 2013, from
http://www.avid.org/abo_dataandresults.html
AVID | Decades of College Dreams. AVID Elective Standards. Retrieved April 5, 2013, from
http://www.avid.org/dl/eve_natcon/nc11_newweeksataglance.pdf
AVID | Decades of College Dreams. AVID | 2012 AVID National Conference. Retrieved April 5, 2013, from
http://www.avid.org/eve_nc12_concurrentsessions.html
Dean, J. The Middle School AVID student. The relationshipbetween advancement via Individual
Determination (AVID) and middle school student academic achievement and stakeholders'
perceptions: A southern California case study - Udini. Retrieved April 5, 2013, from
http://udini.proquest.com/view/the-relationship-between-goid:366338395/
Knaus, B. (2009, 23). TeachPaperless. TeachPaperless: Guest Post on Bringing Tech to the AVID
Classroom: AVID Is Awesome, But.... Retrieved April 5, 2013, from
http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2009/12/guest-post-on-bringing-tech-to-avid.html
Sparks, S. (2011, 6). McDonald Sales and Marketing, LLC -.AVID Program – Advancement Via Individual
Determination » McDonald Sales and Marketing, LLC. Retrieved April 5, 2013, from
http://mcdonaldsalesandmarketing.biz/category/avid-program-advancement-via-individual-
determination/
DRAFT: Avid Strategies Merging With 21st Century Technology Appendix
Appendix A
Excel Spreadsheet
Appendix B
Google Drive Student Projects