| Edited by Diane McGrath, Kansas State
University |
formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education
JRTE, Volume 32, Number 1, Fall
1999
An Examination of the
Relationships
Between Student Conduct and the Number of Computers per Student in
Florida Schools
Ann E. Barron, Kristine Y. Hogarty, and
Jeffrey D. Kromrey
University of South Florida
Peter Lenkway
Florida Department of Education
Abstract
The relationship between the numbers of computers
in schools
and student conduct was investigated using
school-level
data reported to the Department of Education by
all Florida
school districts for the 1993–1994,
1994–1995,
and 1995–1996 school years. Computer use was
defined
as the total number of computers used for
instruction, and
student conduct was defined as the number of
conduct violations
and number of disciplinary actions taken. In
addition, school
attendance and staff turnover rates were analyzed.
Results
from the research among Florida schools reporting
consistent
increased use of computers in instruction
revealed: (a)
Elementary schools witnessed fewer conduct
violations (effect
sizes ranged from –0.67 to 0.04) and
disciplinary actions
(effect sizes ranged from –0.13 to
–0.10), (b)
middle/junior high schools experienced fewer
conduct violations
(effect sizes ranged from –0.35 to
–0.14) and
disciplinary actions (–0.21 to –0.18),
and (c)
high schools experienced fewer crimes against
property (effect
size –0.26) and fewer total numbers of
conduct violations
(effect size –0.23) were witnessed.
Contributors
Ann E. Barron is an associate professor in the
instructional
technology program at the University of South
Florida where
she teaches graduate-level courses in multimedia,
telecommunications,
and instructional design. She is also the
executive director
of the Florida Center for Instructional Technology
and the
author of numerous books that focus on the
integration of
technology into education. Kristine Y. Hogarty is
a doctoral
candidate in educational measurement and research
at the
University of South Florida. Her work has been
published
in the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology
and Multiple
Linear Regression Viewpoints. Her primary research
interests
are applied statistics and data analysis. Jeffrey
D. Kromrey
is an associate professor in the Department of
Educational
Measurement and Research at the University of
South Florida.
His work has been published in
Educational and
Psychological Measurement, Journal of Experimental
Education,
Educational Researcher, and
Multivariate Behavioral
Research. His major research interests are
applied statistics
and data analysis. Peter Lenkway is the
administrator of
the Office of Educational Technology in the
Florida Department
of Education. He works with school districts
throughout
Florida to implement technology planning and
resources.
(Address: Dr. Ann E. Barron, University of South
Florida,
4202 East Fowler Avenue, EDU 208B, Tampa, Florida,
USA 33620-5650;
barrona@mail.firn.edu.)
Web Link
Quality Education Data. (1998). U.S.
school districts
to spend $5.4 billion on technology in
1998–99
[Online document]. Denver, CO: Quality Education
Data. Available:
www.qeddata.com/TPFPress%20Release.htm.
Note. This Web site was valid
when this
issue of JRCE went to press. We have
no control
over the site, though, and the Web is very
volatile. Please
let us know if you find that the link is broken,
and we’ll
do our best to update it.
A PDF file of the full article is available. Contact: jrte@iste.org. Please specifiy Volume
and Issue number and article name.
Copyright ©
1999, ISTE (International
Society for Technology in Education).
All rights reserved.
| educational technology, student conduct,
technololgy |
|
