Degree Name

EdD (Doctor of Education)

Program

Educational Leadership

Date of Award

5-2018

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Dr. James Lampley

Committee Members

Dr. William Flora, Dr. Virginia Foley, Dr. Stephanie Tweed

Abstract

This research explored the impact of a sixth grade one-to-one laptop initiative on student attitudes about learning and technological competencies. The study compared student preintervention and postintervention survey data prior to and after a sixth grade laptop intervention initiative. The survey responses were divided into 5 dimensions (School Subject Attitudes, Teaching and Learning Preferences, Computer Use Perceptions, Technology Skills, and Personal Attitudes and Behaviors) on both pre- and postsurveys. District means were compared with preintervention and postintervention data, as well as the means from the 5 dimensions, using a one-sample t-test with a midpoint test value of 3 on a 5-point scale. Ninety students participated in the preintervention survey and 93 students participated in the postintervention survey across 3 schools. The findings indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in student responses in 4 of the 5 dimensions except Teaching and Learning Preferences. Overall the findings on the 2 dimensions related to technological competencies had statistically significant scores on the postintervention survey, whereas the findings on 2 of the 3 sections related to student attitudes about learning had statistically significant scores. In conclusion, generally the laptop intervention initiative had an overall positive impact on student attitudes and technological competencies. The researcher concluded that the timing of the postsurvey, as well as the research taking place during the first year of implementation could have had an impact on the Teaching and Learning Preferences results. Examining the impact of one-to-one initiatives on student attitudes about learning and technological competencies could support districts in making the decision of adopting this technology.

Document Type

Dissertation - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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