Barriers to Systemic, Effective, and Sustainable Technology Use in the Classroom

• In Event: Roundtable Session 43
  In Roundtable Session: Rethinking Educational Systems and Technological Literacy Standards

Abstract

The purpose of the Technology and High School Success (THSS) initiative was to encourage innovative strategies focused on improving provincial high school completion rates, using technology and student-centered learning to engage student interest. The primary purpose of this paper is to report on barriers that impede systemic, effective and sustainabile technology integration within schools. Despite teacher and administrative support and commitment for THSS, evaluative research indicated minimal change in system capacity as a result of the initiative. Three primary barriers to program sustainability were: 1) schools and school districts did not take the opportunity to revisit their existing vision(s), 2) schools and school districts did not use collected data to make changes, and 3) limited access to technology.

Authors

• Jason Scott Daniels, University of Alberta

• Jean Kellogg, University of Alberta

• Stanley J. Varnhagen, University of Alberta

• Sharon Friesen, University of Calgary

• Michele Jacobsen, University of Calgary