An Ecological Case Study of Two Middle Schools’ Technology Integration

Michelle Fulks Read, Sara Jolly Jones, Joan E. Hughes, Gloria Gonzales-DholakiaThe University of Texas at Austin

Technology Integration

•Digital Communication Technologies•Support Socio-constructivist Instruction•Subject Area Content

Saguaro MS

• Rural

• 1,000 students

• 74% Hispanic

• 20% African-American

• 74% Econ. Disadvantaged

• MET AYP “Acceptable”

• 1 lab, 2 carts, 8 library computers

• Shared Tech. Integration Specialist

Porter MS

• Urban

• 1,000 students

• 50% White (w/transfers)

• 50% Hispanic/African-Am

• 39% Econ. Disadvantaged

• MET AYP “Acceptable”

• 4 labs, 2 carts, 18 library computers

• Dedicated Tech. Integration Specialist

Research Question

Are there differences in technology integration between Porter and Saguaro Middle Schools looking at factors related

to students, teachers, and leaders?

Data collection…

• Student, teacher and leader surveys

Saguaro MS• 4 leaders• 11 teachers• 234 students

Porter MS• 9 leaders• 16 teachers• 309 students

Data Analysis…

• Descriptive measures • Pearson’s coefficient• Chi-square • t-Tests

Technology Activities

• Communication • Web• Productivity• Creativity

Significant Factors…

• School – Strong and significant for in-school– None or weak significance outside of school

• Gender • Grade • Computer Ownership– 83% of Saguaro students own a computer– 95% of Porter students own a computer

Reported Student Use

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70% In-school

Out-of-school

Both

Porter Saguaro

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use)

Porter Students…

• 3.5 to 5 times more likely to participate in technology activities in school– Most difference in Creativity Activities

• 3.5 to 4.75 times more likely to participate in technology activities both in and out of school– Most difference in Creativity Activities

Saguaro Students…

• Reported more frequent use of technology in all categories

•Reported higher skill levels in regards to productivity activities

In-Class Technology Use 

Math Writing Math WritingPorter Saguaro

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Teachers

Students

Perc

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f Use

rs

Summary…

• More out-of-school technology use than in-school use at both school

• More teacher use of technology than student use

• Porter students are significantly more likely to report use of technology in school and in- and out-of-school

Teacher Beliefs and Attitudes

• Technology Self-efficacy:– Porter= 3.14– Saguaro=2.96

• Attitudes Toward Technology:– Porter=3.17– Saguaro=3.46

• Directive /Constructivist Philosophy– Porter=2.05– Saguaro=1.9

Breakdown of teachers use…

Read a blog or wiki Social Networking Online productivity Share creations online0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

PorterSaguaro

Perc

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f Tea

cher

s

Participation in professional development opportunities

Works

hops run by o

utside s

ources

Works

hops run by d

istric

t source

s

Mentor/C

olleag

ue

Conferen

ces

Online P

D

Group or 1

:1 Tech

train

ing

Release

Time f

or grad

e-lev

el plan

ning

Release

Time f

or indivi

dual PD

Works

hops run by o

utside s

ources

Works

hops run by d

istric

t source

s

Mentor/C

olleag

ue

Conferen

ces

Online P

D

Group or 1

:1 Tech

train

ing

Release

Time f

or grad

e-lev

el plan

ning

Release

Time f

or indivi

dual PD

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

SkillContent

Porter Saguaro

Perc

enta

ge re

porti

ng

Differences in leaders’ knowledge

Leader

#1

Leader

#2

Leader

#3

Leader

#1

Leader

#2

Leader

#3

Leader

#4

Leader

#5

Leader

#6

Leader

#7

Leader

#8

Leader

#90

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

17 1320

30

1023

715 12

29

12 18

16 2118

22

11

17

1410

9

19

14

18

17 1922

17

20

21

1317

18

25

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1922

15

26

11

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15 13

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8

18

15

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12

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2027

2114

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17

11

22

12

27

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28

Social, Legal & Ethical Issues

Assessement & Evaluation

Support, Management & Operations

Productivity & Professional Practice

Teaching & Learning

Leadership & Vision

NET

S-A

Tota

l Sco

re

Differences in leaders’ ranking of improvement in various categories.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%Not Successful Moderately Successful Very Successful

Porter Saguaro

Perc

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f Agr

eem

ent

Digital DivideDigital

Inequality

For more information or a copy of the complete paper, contact:

Joan E. Hughes, PhDThe University of Texas at AustinE-mail: joanh@mail.utexas.edu

www.techedges.org