Schools Where Technology Improves Learning Ron Anderson & Sara Dexter Project Co-directors Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the U

Schools Where Technology Improves Learning

Ron Anderson & Sara Dexter

Project Co-directorsFunding for this project was provided by a grant from the U. S. Department of Education, which in no way is responsible for the views expressed here or in the project reports.

At http://www.edtechcases.info

Overview

Purpose of the Study• Identify exemplary U.S. schools with

innovative classrooms incorporating technology to improve learning

• Represent the USA in two international studies

Overview

Site Selection Criteria

The school was committed to 1. meeting high content standards in core subjects

2. a school-wide reform or improvement effort

3. an innovative, technology-supported pedagogical practice

The school’s 4. student body was diverse

5. efforts appeared sustainable and transferable

6. evidence of educationally significant student outcomes or gains was compelling

Overview

International Studies• IEA

International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement

– Second Int’l Technology in Education Study (SITES) Module 2: Case Studies

• OECDOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

– ICT and the Quality of Learning

Overview

Site Search Process:1. Nominations of schools or districts solicited from all

State directors of Ed.Tech & Curriculum Supervisors & from Advisory Committee and consultants

2. Searches for exemplary sites in magazines, academic literature, NECC proceedings, databases, websites, winners of grants, spotlight school selections, Expert Panel on Ed. Tech selections

3. Review and ranking of these lists by Advisory Committee and consultants

4. Phone interviews of administrators and teachers at top ranked school sites

5. Re-ranking of top ranked sites

School Name Level Grades Served

Enroll-ment

Size of Place

Percent Minority

Percent Poverty+

Newsome Park Elementary

Elem. K-5 768 Urban 60% 60%

Canutillo Elementary Elem. K-6 665 Suburban 95 100 Mantua Elementary Elem. K-6 618 Suburban 25 7 Frontier Elementary Elem. K-5 891 Suburban 11 35 Lemon Grove Middle School

Middle 6-8 800 Suburban 65 75

Jennings Junior High School

Middle 7-8 500 Urban 95 80

The Mott Hall School Middle 4-8 425 Urban 96 79 Mountain Middle* Middle 6-8 1,338 Suburban 12 7 Emerson High School High 9-12 1,343 Urban 90 92 New Tech High School High 11-12 240 Town 46 - The Virtual High School

High 9-12 3,000 - - -

Final Eleven

School Name Innovation/ Reform Newsome Park Elementary School

Project learning using wireless laptops

Canutillo Elementary School Constructivist learning, supported by technology Mantua Elementary School "Basic School" vision powered by technology Frontier Elementary School Integrated curriculum, extended school year, and

technology focus Lemon Grove Middle School "Thin client" system and academic performance Jennings Junior High School Inquiry based , technology-integrated lessons The Mott Hall School Laptops for all students and staff Mountain Middle School* Technology to support standards -based achievement Emerson High School Integration of technology with whole-language curricular

reform New Tech High School High-Tech preparation for a high -tech world The Virtual High School Production and online delivery of elective courses within a

consortium of schools

Final Eleven

Overview

Analysis Strategies:1. All interviews and focus group interviews

transcribed

2. These and other documents obtained from schools compiled into an NVIVO database

3. Coding scheme and definitions finalized

4. Documents coded case by case using NVIVO

5. Multicase reports prepared based primarily upon interpretations of coded text

Multicase Themes

Findings across all of the schools… • Professional community• Technology Support• Leadership• Changing Teacher and Student Roles• Sustainability and Transferability • Curriculum and Assessment Aspects

School Reports & Videos

For each of the eleven schools• Demographic information• Text case report• Link to school website

For five schools• Five minute QT video• PDF of case script

Newsome Park Elem. School

K-5, 760 students, Urban, 60%, 60%, 5:1• Project-based learning using wireless

laptops• Teacher Practices & Outcomes

– PBL, tech skills, coaching,view of students

• Student Outcomes– More responsibility, tech skills, SOLs

• Professional Community Theme

Newsome Park Elem. School

In the video…• What context factors do you expect to

hear highlighted about this school?• Where and how do you expect to see

the technology being used?

Discussion• What predictions were confirmed?• What surprised you?• What did you learn?

Lemon Grove Middle School

6-8, 800 students, suburban, 65%, 75%, 2:1

• “Thin client” system for improving academic performance

• Teacher Practices & Outcomes – Data to individualize and remediate, Intranet

sites, project and research work

• Student Outcomes– Research, group, math and reading skills,

home access to technology

• Technology Support Theme

Lemon Grove Middle School


hear highlighted about this school?• Where and how do you expect to see the

technology being used?


New Tech High School

11-12, 240 students, Small town, 46%, 1:1 • High tech preparation for a

high tech world (tech-rich PBL) • Teacher Practices & Outcomes

– PBL curricula, interdisciplinary, facilitators of student groups

• Student Outcomes– CC courses, internship, speaking and team

skills, 95% do post-secondary work

• Leadership Theme

New Tech High School


hear highlighted about this school? • Where and how do you expect to see the

technology being used?


Some Ideas for Future Research

• Sustainability, transferability, and scaling up challenges

• Impact of alternative federal and state technology policies

• Role of technology in schools that are effective as learning organizations

• Role of assessment systems in monitoring and mediating impact of technology on processes and outcomes

http://www.edtechcases.info