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A Case Study of Technology Choices by High School Students

Owens-Hartman, Amy R

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Education, University of Akron, Secondary Education.
The purpose of this case study was to examine student technology choices when given the freedom to choose technology devices to complete a project-based learning activity in a content area of study. The study also analyzed factors affecting technology choice as well as how technology proficiency scores aligned to technology choices. Patterns and themes were identified during data analysis. Three research questions guided this study are: 1) When given a choice, what technologies do students use to accomplish a Project-based Learning mission? 2) Why does a student choose certain technologies to accomplish a Project-based Learning mission? 3) How do students’ technology choices during a Project-based Learning mission align with their Atomic Learning’s © Technology Skills Student Assessment scores? Data analysis of the first question indicated that for hardware choice, students overwhelmingly chose laptops to complete a project-based mission with smart phones coming in second to complete or enhance the mission. In my results section for software choice, all students chose some sort of cloud-based technology: Google Slides, Prezi, a blog, Twitter, and Google Sites. Data analysis of the second question concluded that both internal and external factors affected student technology choices. Students chose the software choice first to accomplish their project and then chose the hardware tool to work best with the software. Hardware was seen as the needed device to make the cloud based software work as best as possible. Data analysis of my final and third question indicated that self-efficacy and previous experiences are crucial components for secondary level students when choosing and using technology. Technology proficiency scores aligned to student technology choices.
Lynne Pachnowski, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Gary Holliday, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Harold Foster, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
John Savery, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
I-Chun Tsai, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
183 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Owens-Hartman, A. R. (2015). A Case Study of Technology Choices by High School Students [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1446579631

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Owens-Hartman, Amy. A Case Study of Technology Choices by High School Students. 2015. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1446579631.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Owens-Hartman, Amy. "A Case Study of Technology Choices by High School Students." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1446579631

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)