Dawn AndersonMay 27, 2015Dissertation Reviews

IntroductionToday’s classroom environments can be greatly enriched through the integration of technology. Within my school, not many teachers actually have more than the basic technology implemented within their classrooms. I decided to center my dissertation research upon technology use within schools, more precisely within English classrooms. I chose one older article, due to sheer personal interest of how technology has progressed, and two more recent articles to explore current opinions. In general, the number of dissertations specific to English classrooms were low, but each dissertation added to my knowledge base as I prepare to implement more technology within my own classroom.

Dissertation #1

Rapp, C. S. (1997). A survey of factors affecting computer implementation in rural northeast tennessee K-12 public schools (Order No. 9807600). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (304351576). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/304351576?accountid=25998

SummaryThis dissertation addresses many problems keeping rural k-12 Tennessee schools from using technology to its fullest potential. The identified problems include a lack of computer access, funding, time, training, experience, and the fear of change. The study included many variables in regard to teachers and principals and their needs for training and retraining in respect to why they are not using technology. The variables that were investigated were gender, level of education, age, prior experience with technology, and attitude. Multiple conclusions were reached, including the following: schools lack computer access, teacher training, the teachers and administrators believe technology would be helpful to them and will be indispensable in the future, male and female school employees have similar attitudes about technology, age differences cause varied levels of technological experience but not attitude, it would be useful to group teachers and administrators into variable groups for learning, and the potential for the use of technology is not being realized within Tennessee schools.

ReviewAlthough this dissertation was written 18 years ago, the findings are sadly still applicable today. We still face a lack of technology present within many of our classrooms, thus lacking an opportunity to help our students to prepare for the twenty first century workforce. Also, the same problems the dissertation addresses are present within certain public school systems today. Even if technology is available, many teachers do not use it due to lack of training or fear of change. The research completed within this dissertation visits the importance of graduates having basic computer skills, such as spreadsheets and word processing. Something amazing this study revealed was that President Clinton’s 2000 goal was to bring internet to every school classroom and library. My school, a high school in South Carolina, has internet access available to students in only a handful of business classrooms, and one regular classroom. The dissertation is very well written and well referenced, with many quantitative facts which were obtained through

surveys. The author, Carl Rapp, has an impressive vitae, including multiple publications, education, and teaching experience.

Dissertation #2

Bumgarner, B. L. (2012). Digital storytelling in writing: A case study of student teacher attitudes toward teaching with technology(Order No. 3533990). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1264877683). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1264877683?accountid=25998

Summary

This particular dissertation explored how new teachers teach digital storytelling to students who actually are more technologically advanced than their teachers. The study realized the fact that using technology within the classroom helps to keep students engaged and motivated, but did not remove apathy. The author is asking for a change in two aspects. One, ensure that incoming teachers are better trained to use technology within their classrooms. Second, teachers should see digital storytelling and literacy as a way of thinking. The study also views using technology during writing instruction is a wonderful starting point. This study also brought up an obvious realization, our students are happily writing daily within social media, and if we can use technology as a means of writing instruction, our results could greatly improve in ways which may have been previously unimagined.

Review

I truly could relate to the phrase which stated that teachers today are expected to constantly change to meet the changing needs of our digital learners. This honestly is the entire reason I chose the Ed. Tech. program for my master degree. When I moved into the teaching field, I was ignorant as to using technology in general, let alone within my classroom, and I felt inferior to my students. Many points brought up within this dissertation hit home for me. Also, I must admit that the study found the divide between technology abilities has nothing to do with student socio-economic level, but instead the huge gap is between the students and the teachers. This also relates to much of the other literature I have read, how do we train all educators to use technology to enrich their curriculum and help the students to better prepare for life after school?

Dissertation #3

Simpson, C. L. (2013). A comparative study of teachers' perceptions of traditional teaching and teaching with technology: Pre-technology era and post-technology era (Order No. 3596264). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1448884628). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1448884628?accountid=25998

Summary

This particular dissertation focused upon teacher perceptions of teaching with technology versus teaching in the traditional classroom. Only two teachers were used as participants in the study,

but the study did provide many valuable conclusions. An amazing realization is brought up, until the last two or so decades, traditional classrooms were all that existed, and teachers just had paper, writing utensils, books and chalkboards to teach with. Also discussed is the wide variety of technology which is now available to classroom teachers, but with any inclusion of technology, this changes both their curriculum and method of teaching. Although change may be difficult for some teachers, using technology can both improve communication between teachers and students, and it also can improve student learning and preparation for adult life within a global society.

Review

There were many realizations brought up within this dissertation which caused me to reflect upon my own classroom. For example, the author reminded readers of an obvious but overlooked point, our students have grown up most of their lives surrounded by technology, so it is only natural for them to expect us to use technology within our schools to promote learning. The major downfall I see of this study is that there were no actual observations, and only two teachers were questioned.