Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Peter K. Mills
Committee Member
Stephen I. Siplet
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
adequate technology skills, applications, characteristics, computer-related applications, criteria, data collection, developmental methodology, education, evaluation, faculty, hardware, implementation, literature reviews, morale, obstacles, participants, performance, principal, software, staff development, student performance, students, teacher morale, teachers, teaching, technology, technology skills, technology training, telephone interviews, training program, Web searches, Yulee Middle School
Abstract
At Yulee Middle School, few teachers believe that they are prepared adequately for the challenge of using today’s technology to facilitate teaching. The largest obstacle to the implementation of technology in education is not the lack of hardware or software but, more so, the fact that many teachers are not adept technologically.
The impetus behind this project was the lack of technology training available at Yulee Middle School. The author, who is the principal, thought it necessary to address this issue. In an effort to acquire the specifics related to technology and technology training, the researcher posed the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of an appropriate technology-training program?
2. What criteria should guide the development of a technology-training program?
3. What are the components of a technology-training program?
4. What skills must teachers acquire to become effective and efficient with technology?
5. How should such a program be implemented, and if implemented, how should it be evaluated?
By answering these questions through literature reviews, Web searches, and telephone interviews, the researcher, using the developmental methodology, was able to develop a technology-training program for the teachers at Yulee Middle School.
After collecting data, the researcher developed a skill-specific training that would expose all participants to a plethora of computer-related applications. Due to the fact that nearly 40% of the Yulee Middle School faculty lacks adequate technology skills, the researcher believes that the training possibly could have a positive impact on teacher morale and student performance.