Florida’s EETT Leveraging Laptops Initiative and Its Impact on Teaching Practices
Kara Dawson and Cathy Cavanaugh
University of Florida
Albert D. Ritzhaupt
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Abstract
This study measures changes in teaching practices that occurred during a school year that included laptop implementation and professional development. The changes were documented through direct observations of more than 400 classrooms in more than 50 K–12 schools in 11 Florida districts. Trained observers used two valid observation instruments to measure teaching practices and technology use. The Mantel-Haentzel procedure was used to infer statistical differences between fall and spring observations. Observed percentages, means, standard deviations and effect sizes are provided. Results suggest laptop implementation and professional development can lead to increased student-centered teaching, increased tool-based teaching, and increased meaningful use of technology. This research suggests that laptop implementation coupled with professional development may have an immediate impact on instructional practices.
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Contributors
Kara Dawson is associate professor of educational technology in the School
of Teaching and Learning at the University of Florida (UF). She serves as program
coordinator for the face-to-face and online programs there. Her research
relates to investigating innovative ways in which technology supports teaching
and learning processes. (E-mail: dawson@coe.ufl.edu).
Cathy Cavanaugh is associate professor of educational technology at the University
of Florida. She has worked in professional development and higher education
since 1996, specializing in distance education and technology in K–12
schools. She was a science teacher in Florida and the Caribbean for 14 years.
Her publications include books and articles in science education and educational
technology. (E-mail: cathycavanaugh@coe.ufl.edu).
Albert D. Ritzhaupt is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina
at Wilmington. His primary research areas focus on the development of
technology-enhanced instruction, and technology integration. His publications
have appeared in multiple venues, including the Journal of Computing in Higher
Education, Behavior Research Methods, and Computers in Human Behavior. (Email:
aritzhaupt@gmail.com).
Contact
Kara Dawson
University of Florida
2403 Norman Hall
PO Box 117048
Gainesville, FL 32605
Phone: 352.392.9191, Ext. 261
E-mail: dawson@coe.ufl.edu
Copyright 2008, (International Society for Technology in Education). All rights reserved.
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