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My driving question looked at the effects of technological peer feedback and student achievement in middle school science. 

When I first began my research, my original thoughts revolved around the new NGSS (Next Generation Science) standards, and the new expectations that were being asked of my students. I knew that they needed to write more than they had in the past, and had to improve their critical thinking skills and ability to process and analyze more complex problems. Below you will find what my research showed me, and where to go from here. 

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Background and Need
​     As I mentioned above, expectations for students are changing. The mere ability to memorize facts will no longer help students compete on a global stage. Students were struggling to make progress at home and seemed to be stuck in their learning. To compete against their peers across the globe, they need to build their writing skills. They need to build their critical thinking skills. If we are going to prepare students for this different way of thinking and writing, they must be given the opportunity to practice these skills. 
     According to the California Department of Education's most recent STAR data (link attached),41% of students were either at the basic or below basic level. The most recent results from NAEP (National Assessment of Education Progress) showed that only a third (link attached) of our students were at or above what would be considered proficient. The path that we are currently on isn't working. We need to try something else. 

Literature review 
     In the table below, you will find a collection of the research that I used to help me with my action research. It is collection of all of the articles and research that was used in my research paper. Click on the document for access to all of the articles. 

​Just a quick glance at the abstract.
     Students are currently in the process of transitioning from learning styles based around memorization towards more critical thinking in science. Students are now expected to display 21st century skills in their daily practice. There currently is very little research on how technology can be leveraged with the use of peer feedback to build these 21st century skills, specifically critical thinking skills in a middle school setting. In this mixed method research study, the study will focus on the effects of using these strategies on student achievement and knowledge, specifically in a middle school science classroom.

Students going through the peer review process

The real deal...

Peer feedback research poster. 

Design Process

Support and Next Steps