Although different people attribute success to a variety of sources, individual effort is the one source that is the most within an individual’s control and is, therefore, the source that educators are most concerned with. Reinforcing effort is an important instructional strategy because it allows learners to understand the relationship between effort and achievement, thereby making them responsible for their success. One technology tool that allows educators to facilitate the learners’ tracking of their efforts is Spreadsheet Software. Using a spreadsheet like Microsoft Excel allows students to track the effects of their efforts on their success rather than insisting that individual success lies in external factors beyond their control. A teacher created spreadsheet template can be created that students access and fill in with their individual efforts. In the language arts classes, a large portion of each student’s grade comes from the attainment of AR reading points. A spreadsheet for students to track their time spent reading in the classroom, at home, and the number of points they earn each grading period would be an effective way for them to see how much time they spent reading and how it affects their grade. Such a system gives students a systematic way to clearly see how their grade is earned, as opposed to feeling like it is an arbitrary number the that the teacher “gives” them.
Another tool from technology that aides in reinforcing effort are the various Data Collection Tools available to educators. Data is a powerful way to provide evidence of how each students’ effort directly effects their achievement. Giving students recognition is a powerful way of reinforcing effort; data collection tools and technology allow us to move beyond bulletin boards and verbal teacher comments. Along with the aforementioned ways of providing recognition, educators can use the school website to show photographs and examples of students working and tell student success stories. In the library, we can post names of students who make the Reading Team along with a recognition of top point earners. Surveys can be used to gain insight into issues surrounding student effort. I would like to create a student survey that examines the issues of reading to find out why do students like to read, why don’t they like to read, what obstacles do they face in becoming avid readers. I could then use this information to provide motivation (effort) and recognition.
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I think that there are times when we overestimate or underestimate the amount of time we spend doing things. When I taught Language Arts, I had my students keep a reading log. They hated it but I would use it to help them set goals. By recording the effort they were putting toward a task, I could help them evaluate their habits to help them see what they were getting out of the effort they were putting into the task. Thsi is easily done with a printed spreadsheet which, to me, is not technology integration. If students had easy access to a computer and could record this information on a spreadsheet that had calculations built-in to track their effort, I would consider that integration. I know that most of our campuses don't have the access needed to accomplish these types of things. We need to find a way to increase the number of computers we have available to students to make true integration a reality.
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