Research in the Pacific: Utilizing Technology to Inform and Improve Teacher Practice

Abstract

Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) initiated the Pacific Communities with High-performance In Literacy Development (Pacific CHILD) research project in response to an overwhelming need in PREL’s service region to improve teachers’ knowledge and instructional practices in early reading. A conscious effort was made to use indigenous knowledge while at the same time satisfy the federal requirement of adhering to a set of rigorous methodological standards. The research design is a balance of scientific research methodology and the incorporation of cultural, language, political, social and environmental realities of the Pacific. This chapter highlights some of the technological methods used to collect data from staff members who provided on-site professional development. Data was also collected via video cameras that offered immediate feedback to teachers regarding strategies acquired during professional development activities. Also described are the rewards and potential pitfalls of utilizing technology for both formative and summative use.