CYCLE THREE REPORT
RESEARCH QUESTION:
How can I apply my Cycle Two findings to develop a new workshop focused on more realistic goals for the students?
PREDICTED OUTCOME:
Presenting a workshop on effective cover letter writing will prove to be more helpful for dental assisting students than introducing e-portfolio web-based tools. Survey result data will support my prediction.
ACTION TAKEN:
I presented a Prezi presentation to fifteen dental assisting students in their dental classroom after they had completed a final exam at the end of their term on April 25, 2013. My first step was to introduce myself again to the students, and to explain that the workshop was another requirement for my Masters Degree project. I thanked them for their help with my first cycle, and thanked them in advance for their participation in this final cycle. I asked the students to ask any questions they had as I presented, and also stressed that I would be asking for honest feedback at the end so that I could learn from their input.
Before beginning, I handed out paper copies of the information being presented: the sample cover letter I was using as an example in the Prezi, and the steps of writing an effective cover letter.
Technology utilized in the workshop:
1. computer and projector available in the classroom to present the information
2. Prezi (www.prezi.com) (see Appendix for screenshots of the Prezi and examples of the cover letter and the steps)
Before beginning, I handed out paper copies of the information being presented: the sample cover letter I was using as an example in the Prezi, and the steps of writing an effective cover letter.
Technology utilized in the workshop:
1. computer and projector available in the classroom to present the information
2. Prezi (www.prezi.com) (see Appendix for screenshots of the Prezi and examples of the cover letter and the steps)
EVIDENCE USED TO EVALUATE THE ACTION:
After completing the workshop, I took an informal student survey. For the first few questions, I asked for verbal answers:
Three key ideas shared today were...
1. “Cover letters can present a lot of information.”
2. “...what information is important to include in our cover letters.”
3. “…how to save a file as a .pdf.”
Two things I learned that I thought were interesting today were...
1. “…that I need to follow up after sending in my cover letter and résumé.”
2. “…how to address my cover letter.”
One thing I still want to know more about is...
1. “…the difference between a résumé and cover letter.”
How useful did you find this workshop?
Fourteen out of fifteen students found the workshop to be “extremely useful.” One in fifteen students found the workshop to be “very useful.”
Three key ideas shared today were...
1. “Cover letters can present a lot of information.”
2. “...what information is important to include in our cover letters.”
3. “…how to save a file as a .pdf.”
Two things I learned that I thought were interesting today were...
1. “…that I need to follow up after sending in my cover letter and résumé.”
2. “…how to address my cover letter.”
One thing I still want to know more about is...
1. “…the difference between a résumé and cover letter.”
How useful did you find this workshop?
Fourteen out of fifteen students found the workshop to be “extremely useful.” One in fifteen students found the workshop to be “very useful.”
How likely are you to use the skills you learned today in the future?
Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that they were “very likely” to use the skills learned in the future.
Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that they were “very likely” to use the skills learned in the future.
The workshop length was…
Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that the workshop length was “about right.”
Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that the workshop length was “about right.”
How easy was it to understand the content of this workshop?
Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that is was “extremely easy” to understand the content of the workshop.
Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that is was “extremely easy” to understand the content of the workshop.
I would like to learn more about…
Three in fifteen students indicated that they would like to learn more about writing a résumé. Fifteen in fifteen students indicated that they would like to learn more about interviewing skills. Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that they would like to learn more about job searching skills.
Three in fifteen students indicated that they would like to learn more about writing a résumé. Fifteen in fifteen students indicated that they would like to learn more about interviewing skills. Fifteen out of fifteen students indicated that they would like to learn more about job searching skills.
How confident are you in your ability to find a new job if you needed to?
I asked them to imagine that there were jobs to be found in the city in which they were searching. Two of fifteen students indicated that they were "very confident" in their ability to find a job. Ten in fifteen students indicated that they were "somewhat confident" in their ability to find a job. Two out of fifteen students indicated that they are "not at all confident" in their ability to find a job. One of fifteen students chose not to answer this question.
I asked them to imagine that there were jobs to be found in the city in which they were searching. Two of fifteen students indicated that they were "very confident" in their ability to find a job. Ten in fifteen students indicated that they were "somewhat confident" in their ability to find a job. Two out of fifteen students indicated that they are "not at all confident" in their ability to find a job. One of fifteen students chose not to answer this question.
EVALUATION/REFLECTION:
The clarity and new focus I gained from the survey data collected in Cycle One, the discussion with faculty and students, and the investigation of CTE was integral in the development of my second presentation.
I was extremely pleased with the feedback I received from this workshop. Several students approached me as I was gathering my materials to leave to let me know that they thought that this workshop was very beneficial to them and that they were going to begin to write their own cover letters.
I was extremely pleased with the feedback I received from this workshop. Several students approached me as I was gathering my materials to leave to let me know that they thought that this workshop was very beneficial to them and that they were going to begin to write their own cover letters.