For this course, I conducted a study comparing computer use for students at an intermediate school that had four computers in their classrooms, as well as, access to mobile carts and a computer lab with computer use for middle school students who only had access to mobile carts and a lab, with no in-classroom student computers.
Interview
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Interview 5
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For my professional growth, this project has given me the opportunity to better familiarize myself with the system of providing computers and integrating technology for my school district. I used my observations to not only gain information for the project, but also to better acquaint myself with how teachers are using technology, how integrated the application use is to the curriculum studies, whether I felt meaningful learning was better enhanced by the technology integration and how the students seemed to feel using the computers in their studies. By speaking with district technology team members, I was also able to put myself out there in the district as a person interested in, and with knowledge about, the technological integration possibilities in this district. Conducting the research was a learning experience reminiscent of my undergraduate studies in psychology. This time, though, I was able to use online resources, reference other’s work without going to the library (using online resources and databases) and create using applications such as Excel.
ISTE-TF.3 STANDARD: Teaching,
Learning, and the Curriculum -- Educational technology facilitators apply
and implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for
utilizing technology to maximize student learning.
While not directly an implementation of a curriculum plan to utilize technology
to maximize student learning, the completion of this study could be viewed
as a step towards understanding how Glenview District 34 might better
utilize their existing hardware to bring the technology into the classrooms
on a more regular basis. If they use this study as a first step towards
understanding how the in-classroom computers in the intermediate grades
facilitate the use of technology to enhance student learning on a more
regular basis, compared to the use of only labs and carts at the middle
school level, the district may gain a better understanding about what
is working and what needs work.
ISTE-TF.4 STANDARD: Assessment and Evaluation -- Educational technology facilitators apply technology to facilitate a variety of effective assessment and evaluation strategies
Assessment begins at the teacher level. By evaluating teachers’ use of computers in their classrooms, this study begins to gain a grasp of what is working for the district. It shines a light on the fact that teachers perceive obstacles to using computers in their current configuration of having mostly mobile carts and labs, both in schools that have classroom computers and those that do not. In using surveys, interviews and observations, I was able to use a spreadsheet to map out and visually graph the data, thereby making it a more easily understood assessment of student computer use as reported by teachers in two settings.
TF.8 STANDARD: Leadership and Vision -- Educational technology facilitators will contribute to the shared vision for campus integration of technology and foster an environment and culture conducive to the realization of the vision.
The vision that Glenview District 34 holds of itself as a leader in integrating technology and applying best practice standards, as well as, aligning integration to the goals of the technology plan and the state is a true on. This study on the placement of computers leading to computer use time and application use by students in the classroom establishes a need for further investigation into this area. If the district is going to continue in its growth as a technology leader, and a leading district overall, then applying the principles of established best practice is not sufficient. They must continually assess and re-assess how things are working, the perceptions of the students and teachers, the actuality of the implementation of best practices, in order to continue their growth. This study is a beginning leading towards better understanding of computer placement and how it relates to teacher’s use of computers, technology integration into curriculum studies, comfort levels and competencies of teachers and students.
