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Edited by Dr. Lynne Schrum, University of Utah
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| formerly Journal of Research on Computing in
Education |
Volume 37 Number 3 Spring
2005
Factors Influencing
Outcomes From
a Technology-Focused Professional Development Program
Tomoe Kanaya
Daniel Light
Katherine McMillan Culp
Center for Children and TechnologyEducation Development Center,
Inc.
Abstract
Using survey data, the authors examined the relationship between
intensity (as
opposed to duration) of a technology-focused professional development
program
and specific participant characteristics in predicting successful
outcomes.
The four participant characteristics chosen were: teachers’ feelings
of preparedness
to support student technology use, teachers’ perceptions of the
usefulness of
creating technology-based projects with students, teachers’
perceptions of the
relevance of the pedagogical approaches emphasized, and teachers’
prior use
of featured software. Two outcomes were defined: (1) Use of new
software applications/technology
skills and (2) implementation of new technology-rich lessons. Analyses
indicated
different combinations of personal characteristics predicted each
outcome. In
addition, intensity of the program only predicted the latter outcome.
Implications
of this research are discussed within the framework of the
professional development
literature.
Contributors
Dr. Tomoe Kanaya is a research associate with Education Development
Center’s
Center for Children and Technology.
Dr. Daniel Light is a senior research associate with the Center for
Children
and Technology. His research focuses on the influence of information
and communication
technology in supporting change in school cultures and in teachers’
pedagogy.
Dr. Katherine McMillan Culp is the assistant director for research at
the Center
for Children and Technology. Her work focuses on the evaluation of
professional
development programs and the investigation of adolescents’ use of
technology
across multiple environments.
Contact
Center for Children and Technology
Education Development Center, Inc.
96 Morton Street, 7th floor
New York, NY 10014
kculp@edc.org
Copyright © 2005, ISTE (International Society for Technology in
Education).
All rights reserved.
| Use of new software applications-technology skills, implementation of new technology-rich lessons, combinations of personal characteristics predicted outcome. |
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