Lisa+Rodriguez's+Page

=Lisa's Research Interests= 1. Using technology with second language learners to enhance instructional strategies, increase comprehensible input, increase motivation and engagement levels, and facilitate communication. 2. Student response systems (Clickers) 3. Helping teachers integrate technology into their curriculum 4. Ensuring that K-12 students learn safe and responsible Internet practices

My dissertation title is, "Second Language Learners' Perceptions of Student Response Systems (Clickers) as Communication Aides. My research interests combine my interest in technology to enhance instruction with my interest in second language acquisition and using technology as a tool to help second language learners close the achievement gap in K-12 students' standardized test scores.

I'll be utilizing Q-methodology to research the following questions: 1) What are second language learners' perceptions of student response systems as communication aides? 2) What are non-native English speaking parents' perceptions of home-school partnerships? 3) How does language proficiency and personality affect perceptions of student response systems as communication aides?

=Theoretical Foundations for Research Study= 1. Second Language Acquisition Theory - Stephen Krashen, Jim Cummins, James Crawford, Sonia Nieto 2. Ecological Systems Model - Urie Bronfenbrenner 3. Critical Pedagogy - Paolo Freire, Henry Giroux

The two philosophical perspectives that are most relevant to my study are cognitive constructivism and sociocultural/historicism. My research study will explore the perceptions of second language learners about using student response systems, utilizing Q-methodology in which participants will rank concourse statements according to how much they agree or disagree with their own perceptions. Driscoll, et al (2008) indicated that cognitive constructivism views learning as "proceeding from an individual's uniquely and individually constructed interpretation of that world" (p. 78, par 2). The authors explained that subjective experiences, the personal interpretations people make about the world, are the basis of study through the lens of cognitive constructivism. Q-methodology is a method that takes the traditionally qualitative data of subjective opinions and attitudes and measures them quantitatively through the use of a ranking scale.Therefore, cognitive constructivism is the philosophy that fits best with this particular type of study.

Socioculturalism requires collaboration and communication because learning is seen as a social act, not something that happens in isolation. Because my research interests center around language and language acquisition, I focus my study of technology in education on how it can be used to enhance communication or improve language acquisition. I am excited by the opportunities made possible by the Internet for communication and collaboration among people from all around the world. I sometimes wonder what Vygotsky would have thought and said about social networking. My focus on technology as a communication tool suggests socioculturalism as a logical philosophical perspective.

Against the advice of Driscoll, et al (2008), I consider myself an eclecticist when it comes to learning theories, because I think all the theories are useful and relevant, depending on the situation.

Driscoll, M. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Driscoll, M.; Merrienboer, J.; Merrill, M.; & Spector, J. (2008). Handbook of research on educational communications and technology. New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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