Changing teachers,changing students? The impact of a teacher-focused intervention on students' computer usage,attitudes, and anxiety

An important purpose of integrating computer use into everyday classroom instruction is to help students approach technology as a learning tool. Effective classroom integration is dependent not only on access to computers but also teachers' implementation of computing into learning. Successful implementation, in turn, depends largely on teachers' beliefs about classroom computing. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a teacher-focused technology intervention on students' attitudes toward and use of computers as learning tools. Teachers' attitudes, anxiety, and classroom computer use are explored as mediators of this relationship. Data were collected during a technology intervention in fourth and fifth grade classrooms in an urban public school district. Results suggest that the technology intervention itself had a positive effect on students' attitudes toward and use of computers for educational purposes. There was no evidence, however, that teachers' use or attitudes had any mediating effect on this relationship. These results suggest that it is possible to increase students' attitudes toward computer use through intense interventions aimed at their teachers. Future research should further investigate the mechanisms through which this relationship exits.     

Enacting a technology-based science curriculum across a grade level: The journey of teachers' appropriation

Studying teacher enactment of an innovation helps us understand the process of effective spread of a curricular innovation to teachers who have differing levels of content readiness, pedagogical orientations, teaching competency, different student profiles, and professional development experiences. Towards this, we explore how different teachers in the same grade level appropriated a common science curriculum enabled by mobile technologies in their classrooms. The innovative science curriculum: Mobilized 5E (Engage–Explore–Explain–Elaborate–Evaluate) Science Curriculum was developed through an iterative cycle of design-based research. As curriculum designs were not self-sufficient by themselves, the enactments of the teachers differed in how they leveraged on students' artifacts, how they integrated the technology into the class, the ways in which they interacted with the students, and how they scaffolded students' activities in a mobile learning setting. In this study, the teachers' enactments of mobilized 5E lessons were observed, analyzed and compared, with the aim of exploring the differences of lesson enactment amongst them. The results showed that teachers' different pedagogical orientations affected their instructions, especially their ways of technology integration in the class, and their patterns of interactions with the students. Based on the exploration of the teacher enactment of the mobilized 5E curriculum, implications are drawn concerning the implementation of innovative curricula implementation and the supports for teacher professional development of such innovation with the ultimate purpose of sustaining and scaling.     

Teachers' perceptions of the barriers to technology integration and practices with technology under situated professional development

This case study examines 18 elementary school teachers' perceptions of the barriers to technology integration (access, vision, professional development, time, and beliefs) and instructional practices with technology after two years of situated professional development. Months after transitioning from mentoring to teacher-led communities of practice, teachers continued to report positive perceptions of several barriers and were observed engaging in desirable instructional practices. Interviews suggest that the situated professional development activities helped create an environment that supported teachers' decisions to integrate technology. Implications for teacher professional development and technology integration are discussed in conjunction with the strengths and limitations of the study.     

Preservice and inservice teachers' pedagogical reasoning underlying their most-valued technology-supported instructional activities

We examined teachers' pedagogical reasoning for and the technological knowledge underlying their most-valued technology-supported activities for teaching and learning. Data from 140 preservice and 100 inservice teachers included open-ended, narrative responses to survey questions. Qualitative research methods guided analysis of the data that identified (a) the technology-supported activities and (b) the technical tools, target users, types of uses, rationales for use, and the TPACK underlying each activity. Preservice teachers described mostly teacher-focused and fewer student-focused techno-activities, and their reasoning for use focused on the technology's presentational and engagement effects. A majority of inservice teachers' techno-activities were student-focused, and their reasoning highlighted the technology's support for knowledge acquisition of higher-order cognitive skills and collaborative learning. The knowledge underlying all teachers' techno-activities was predominantly technological pedagogical knowledge (TPK), but inservice teachers also evidenced technological content knowledge (TCK). These results may reveal differences in the teachers' respective learning experiences in teacher education and professional development or reflect a professional maturation process in that it takes teachers time in the field as professionals to broaden their techno-activity repertoires to prioritize student-focus. Sharing the reasoning patterns in this study with teachers may assist them in developing deeper justifications for their technological work in the classroom.     

Exploring the use of educational technology in primary education: Teachers' perception of mobile technology learning impacts and applications' use in the classroom

Mobile technology has become popular worldwide with a broad range of users, including students from all levels of education. Although the impact of mobile technology in classrooms has been extensively studied, less is known about teachers' perceptions of how mobile technology impacts in learning and its relation to Applications (Apps) use in the classroom. This state of affairs is problematic since we know that teachers' perceptions have a great influence on their teaching practices. This study used survey data gathered from 102 teachers of 12 different primary schools in Spain. The questionnaire collected data about teachers' individual information, teachers' perceptions on the impact of mobile technology in learning, and use of a set of selected Apps in the classroom. Findings suggest that facilitating access to information and increasing engagement to learning are the two main impacts of mobile technology in the classroom. Findings also show that the choice of Apps is related to the teachers' perception of how mobile technology impacts in learning. Findings could help teachers to take advantage of the combination of affordances of mobile technology and Apps that actually improve some aspects of learning practice.     

How teachers integrate a math computer game: Professional development use,teaching practices,and student achievement

As more attention is placed on designing digital educational games to align with schools' academic aims (e.g., Common Core), questions arise regarding how professional development (PD) may support teachers' using games for instruction and how such integration might impact students' achievement. This study seeks to (a) understand how teachers use PD resources (e.g., technology personnel and game‐use workshops) for integration; (b) determine how teachers integrate games into their instruction; and (c) examine how those teaching practices are associated with student achievement. This mixed method study used survey and interview responses from elementary school teachers (n = 863) with access to PD resources for implementing a math game intervention and standardized math‐test scores from their second‐ through sixth‐grade students (n = 10,715). Findings showed few teachers sought PD assistance for integration, but many desired such support. Some reported using integrative practices (i.e., referencing game and using game‐generated progress reports) to identify struggling students, whereas several found integration challenging. Teachers' reordering of game objectives to align with lessons and viewing of game‐based PD videos were associated with increased student math achievement in our OLS‐analysis. However, this result was no longer statistically significant within a school fixed‐effects model, suggesting school differences may influence how strongly teachers' practices are associated with student achievement.     

Technology and its impact in the classroom

Recent findings have shown that at-risk students in grades k-12 are being deprived of challenges and of the chance to use complex thinking skills. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect that the level of computer technology use in the classroom has on at-risk students' grades and attendance. A teacher technology survey is used to measure teacher use, student use and overall use of technology in the classrooms. The sample for this study consists of teachers from a Northwest Ohio high school. Results of the study indicate that teachers' technology use, students' technology use, and overall technology use have no significant positive effect on the grades and attendance of at-risk students. In addition the study finds that technology use is low among the teachers in the sample. These results suggest that for technology to be effective and make changes in at-risk students' grades and attendance, schools must be prepared for technology use in the classroom. Leaders need to develop a model that would include a shared vision, entire school community involvement, specific training for staff and time for the training, a full time technology director and time for the staff to communicate and share among peers for technology to be an effective tool in the classroom curriculum.     

Teachers' implementation of a game-based biotechnology curriculum

Research in education suggests that computer games can serve as powerful learning environments, however, teachers perceive many obstacles to using games as teaching tools. In this study, we examine three science teachers' implementation and perceptions of a curriculum unit incorporating the game, Mission Biotech (MBt) and a set of supporting curriculum materials. The curriculum unit was designed to provide multiple avenues for teachers to adjust and modify materials and implementation plans based on their unique classroom goals and environments. To understand how individual teachers use, conceptualize, and reflect upon the MBt unit and its implementation, we conducted three case studies, including classroom observations and teacher interviews. Findings include many similarities among teachers including adaptation of activities to classroom norms and practices, high value placed on quality curricular resources and support, advantage of the game to provide experiences that are normally out of reach for students, and concerns about effective use of time. Unique features of different teachers revealed implications for design and professional development for game-based curricula. For example, the study revealed that teachers need support to integrate and make explicit connections between the game and supporting curriculum materials.     

Consuming and creating: Early-adopting science teachers' perceptions and use of a wiki to support professional development

Many teachers have little opportunity to share and discuss their practice in the course of a normal school day beyond chance meetings in the staff room. Such a lack of opportunity can leave many teachers feeling isolated. However, online resources are continuously providing teachers with greater opportunities to engage with other teachers. This research studied early-adopting New Zealand science teachers' perceptions and integration of one such online resource, a wiki, for professional development. The wiki was developed to support teacher portfolios consisting of mediums called Content Representations (CoRes) and Pedagogical and Professional-experience Repertoires (PaP-eRs). Initial interviews were conducted with six teachers and were followed by case studies of three of these teachers. Data included pre/post interviews, field notes from feedback on observations, and teachers' use of the wiki. Findings discuss important factors organised around three themes in relation to teacher perceptions and engagement in knowledge sharing on a wiki: technology competence, technology utility, and technology resourcing.     

Revisiting cyberbullying: Perspectives from Taiwanese teachers

Cyberbullying among students has received extensive attention from researchers and educators. Most research is, however, based on student reports while teachers' perceptions of this aggressive behavior among students have rarely been studied. We surveyed 2821 Taiwanese teachers on their perceptions of cyberbullying among students, including the types and tools, the ability to remain anonymous, students' responses, and their own practices of handling cyberbullying incidents at school. The results showed that teachers believed that the circulation of embarrassing pictures and videos was the most prevalent type of cyberbullying but that instant messaging was the most frequently used tool. Our findings also revealed teachers' tendency of overestimating students' willingness to report cyberbullying. The students' grade level that the teachers taught and whether they take on administrative duties were found to influence their perceptions of student cyberbullying. We found that teachers were not confident to handle cyberbullying incidents and we suggest that anti-cyberbullying training be included in teacher education.     

Handheld tools that 'Informate' assessment of student learning in Science: a requirements analysis

Abstract An important challenge faced by many teachers as they involve students in science investigations is measuring (‘assessing’) students' progress. Our detailed requirements analysis in a particular school district led to the idea that what teachers need most are ways to increase the quality of the information they have about what students know and can do, not automation of typical assessment practices. We see handheld computers as promising tools for addressing this need because they can give students and teachers frequent, integral access to new ways of expressing and communicating what they know and can do. Our requirements analysis has led us to emphasize a need for handheld-based tools that ‘informate’ science instruction by:

• • Being oriented to the needs of teachers in transition to inquiry-oriented pedagogy;
• • expanding the range of assessment tasks through a new representational medium and communication infrastructure;
• • creating new roles for students in expressing what they know and can do; and
• • focusing both students' and teachers' attention on scientific concepts.

     

Designing effective professional development for technology integration in schools

This study aims to explore the critical factors for effective professional development (PD) activities to support teachers' technology integration and suggests a design model: flipped PD. The following questions are investigated: What are the core features of effective teacher PD, what are the implications of core features in effective technology integration PD, and what are the best practices for designing a flipped PD model for preparing teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms? First, we discuss the core features of effective teacher PD: content focus, active learning, coherence, duration, collective participation, and the role of context. Second, we explore design factors in recent technology integration PD studies: learner centred, relevance and reflection, evidence of student learning, support and follow-up, student voice, and initial implementation with teacher leaders. Finally, we present a discussion of our recommendations for a flipped model for technology integration PD.     

Predicting ICT integration into classroom teaching in Chinese primary schools: exploring the complex interplay of teacher‐related variables

Available research has explored a wide variety of factors influencing information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption and integration in classroom teaching; however, existing research seldom centre on the combined impact of these variables. In addition, the little research available is set up in the Chinese context. The latter is important given that the different cultural context in which the interplay between teacher beliefs and educational practices has only been documented quiet little. The present study centres on the complex interplay of a number of internal teacher variables to explain ICT classroom integration. These variables comprise ‘teachers’ constructivist teaching beliefs’, ‘teacher attitudes towards computers in education’, ‘teachers’ computer motivation’, ‘teacher perception of ICT‐related policy’. A survey was set up, involving 820 Chinese primary school teachers. Path modeling was used to explore the direct and indirect effects of the teacher‐related variables on their level of ICT classroom integration. Firstly, two distinctive types of ICT use can be distinguished in the Chinese context: (a) teacher supportive use of ICT that refers to the use of ICT for e.g. student administration, preparing worksheets, developing evaluation activities; and (b) classroom use of ICT to support and enhance the actual teaching and learning process. The results show that classroom use of ICT directly depends on teachers' computer motivation and the supportive use of ICT. Teachers' constructivist beliefs, their attitudes towards computers in education and perceptions about the ICT‐related school policy influence ICT integration in an indirect way. The results demonstrate how the complex interplay between teacher‐related variables and ICT integration in the classroom is partly in line with findings in non‐Asian contexts. A number of differences can be explained by the particular Chinese context. In particular an indirect relationship was found between teachers' constructivist beliefs and their level of ICT integration.     

Wireless sensors application in smart English classroom design based on artificial intelligent system

In the traditional intelligent English classroom teaching, the efficiency of students' learning is often affected by many external environments, such as the influence of learning environment, the influence of students' own condition, and the influence of teachers' teaching mode. In view of these problems, we propose a wireless sensor network technology intelligent teacher management system, which can reduce the influence of the above factors on students' learning efficiency and improve students' learning efficiency. Make students more focused on learning. The system can monitor the state of students through wireless sensors. When the students are in bad condition, the system can adopt certain measures to enhance the enthusiasm of students. At the same time, the state of students and the state of the classroom will be recorded in the internal background system, the system managers can timely monitor the state of students and teachers, and give some guidance and feedback to students and teachers. This learning system is based on machine-free learning and sensor development. It can adjust the classroom environment to suitable conditions and make students more motivated to learn. Teachers can also have a more stable play, will not cause waste of classroom time and attention loss and other phenomena. When students feel tired or sleepy in class, the management system can also actively remind students. Observing the students' state at all times in the traditional classroom will lead to the teacher's distraction, but the teacher has to observe the students' state while lecturing. This may affect teachers and affect their teaching level, and the use of this automated classroom detection technology can solve such problems. Machine learning is to improve the calculation method through various experiences, which is also a problem in the field of artificial intelligence.     

Bridging the app gap: An examination of a professional development initiative on mobile learning in urban schools

In this study we present a professional development initiative aimed at helping urban teachers in low-income underserved schools in the U.S. learn how to utilize iPads (a representative mobile device) and educational apps (software programs that run on mobile devices) to support teaching and learning. Subsequently, we examine the ways in which four case study teachers utilized iPads and educational apps in their classrooms to support their students' learning experiences. Data included observations of professional development activities, classroom observations, teacher interviews, and student focus groups. Findings revealed that students used iPads and educational apps to (a) access online content, (b) create learning artifacts, and (c) reinforce content learning through personalized instruction. Findings also indicated that use of iPads and educational apps supported student academic growth and empowerment. Results have implications for mobile learning researchers, practitioners, and policy makers, particularly those charged with the design and implementation of professional development programs.     

Recurrent routines: Analyzing and supporting orchestration in technology-enhanced primary classrooms

The increasing presence of multiple Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the classroom does not guarantee an improvement of the learning experiences of students, unless it is also accompanied by pedagogically effective orchestration of those technologies. In order to help teachers in this endeavour, it can be useful to understand how this orchestration takes place in real-world classrooms, and to provide teachers with professional development opportunities that can be easily applied to their everyday classroom practice. This paper describes a qualitative field study conducted in five primary school classrooms where a new collaborative software was introduced alongside existing classroom technology. For six months, teachers designed and orchestrated classroom activities in these authentic, technologically-rich settings. The analysis of the resulting activity designs and enactments uncovered a limited set of recurrent elements of teacher practice, or routines. These routines and their graphical representation are posited as a useful analysis tool for researchers in understanding complex teacher practices with ICT. Moreover, the authors propose that these routines offer new opportunities for professional development of teachers in effectively using ICT in their classrooms. Initial uses of these routines in teacher workshops, with encouraging results, are also presented.     

Behavioral modeling based on cloud computing and target user recommendation for English cloud classroom

The English cloud classroom learning system provides a simple and effective way to access cloud-based training and learning materials. Student records based on behavioral modeling and interactive volume are assumed that the degree of student participation in the course measure. Previous studies, typically the frequency of student activities while ignoring temporary information. Analysis of Students' Activities in the course over time. According to the online classroom activity data, similar behavior change with time students are clustered. These results are three different groups. A large majority of inactive students. Another group to active throughout the students. However, a group of students to the event, but their activity will be reduced throughout the course. These student groups exhibit different performance. Overall students more active, the better the results. In addition to these general trends, also identified a trend of alternative courses that can be found, for example, becomes an active group of students in the course. It suggests that students' behavior is identified from a single course of conduct than the more complex, multi-mode learning activities course. More research is essential. In this study, investigated the Portuguese teachers 'views on classroom management, the relationship between self-off and the efficacy of teachers' and teachers' perception of classroom behavioral teachers' perception of time. Use mediator and moderator variables on the cloud classroom management, and teachers of English teachers perceive the relationship between classroom conditions were cheating process analysis.     

Developing a scale for teacher integration of information and communication technology in grades 1–9

There is no unified view about how teachers' integration of information and communication technology (ICT) should be measured. While many instruments have focused on the technological aspects, recent studies have suggested teachers' pedagogical considerations, professional development, and emerging ethical and safety issues should be included when assessing teachers' ICT literacy. Using the performance standards created by the International Society for Technology in Education, a group of Taiwanese teachers developed equivalent items. After consulting expert panels and interviewing teachers, a scale was constructed. Using this instrument, 3729 teachers from grades 1 through 9 in Taiwan were sampled. Half of the data was analysed by exploratory factor analysis to find the underpinning structure, and the second half was analysed by confirmatory factor analysis to verify the subscales. The results confirmed six subscales for teachers' ICT integration: (1) information collection and preparation; (2) material production and troubleshooting; (3) communication and sharing; (4) planning, teaching and evaluation; (5) professional development and self‐study; and (6) ethical, health and safety issues. Using two teacher attributes, school levels and course or degree obtained, the scale was further verified for its feasibility. The established scale examines the existing concerns for technology, pedagogy and professional development at once with a new addition of ethical and safety issues, which demand growing attention in teachers of future generation.