A reflection at 5am on an AirPlane...

For my implementation study, I plan to evaluate the implementation of the digital tool Search Progress and Coach. This digital tool allows instructors to monitor students’ progress as they work through research-focused exercises in either a synchronous or asynchronous environment (Microsoft, 2024). I chose this digital tool because it directly correlates to my role as a librarian. This upcoming school year, I will be in a new school with different responsibilities from those of my previous school. My responsibilities now include more technology integration in the classroom. This digital tool, Search Progress and Coach is a digital tool that I would consider implementing with my students, who will be fifth and sixth-grade students. Another draw of choosing this digital tool is that it can be integrated with the learning management system (LMS) that my school district uses. 

The Search Progress and Coach digital tool allows students to participate in research assignments and practice their information literacy skills. For instructors, they can view data gathered from the student’s progress on the assignments and they can see the decision-making process each student undertakes during the assignment. The data gathered on the instructor side of the program would allow me to determine the success of the implementation of the digital tool. Ideally, some sort of growth would occur from assignment one to the final assignment. The purpose of implementing this tool is to encourage students to build their inquiry skills, learn to navigate databases, identify credible resources, and consolidate the information gathered into an assignment submission. 

The implementation theory I chose is the Knowledge Utilization and Technology Transfer theory. This theory focuses on the intersection of knowledge management and using technology to share knowledge, either by finding new knowledge or sharing built knowledge. The Search Progress and Coach digital tool allows students to search for information to answer a research question from the assignment. They then share their information digitally via the assignment. This digital tool is designed to support inquiry-based learning, a learning approach that aligns with my chosen theory. 

Microsoft. (2024, June 19). Search progress and coach. EdSurge. https://index.edsurge.com/product/ultid/PF1C-F5F5-5A45-391E-FF/