County Office of Education Technology Needs Assessment Study

• In Event: 26.080 - Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: 26.080-4 - The Current Landscape of Mobile Technology Integration in a Diverse County

Abstract

The pace of technological advancement and the need to prepare students for forthcoming Common Core computer-based assessments place significant pressure on school districts to develop digitally literate students prepared to compete in, and contribute to, the knowledge economy. School districts across this county are working to conceptualize, fund and develop technology programs that respond to these needs. The purpose of the needs assessment was to develop a greater understanding of the way school districts are using technology, as well as gather information about their technology needs, challenges, and future plans. Research by Shapley et al. (2010) supports the importance of a system-wide approach to digital conversion. Their research indicates that the success of digital learning relies on student, family, and community context; school factors (e.g., leadership, technical support, innovative culture); and teacher and student factors. Teacher training in the use of technology for learning is also essential and teachers need training beyond simply how to use specific technology. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect data for the study. The district technology administrators from each of the 42 school districts were invited to complete an online survey that asked detailed information about hardware and software; personnel and technology integration; training and professional development; the Common Core and online state testing; funding for technology resources; and evaluation efforts. A semi-structured interview protocol was used to conduct phone interviews with the technology district administrators and superintendents to gather additional information about the use of technology, challenges needs and future plans. Representatives from 34 of the 42 school districts completed the online survey. Twenty-nine technology district administrators and 32 superintendents participated in a telephone interview. Thirty-eight of the 42 school districts participated in at least one portion the study, representing 722 schools serving over 493,400 students. The data are being analyzed using content analysis, a process through which themes emerge from the data through repeated readings and cross-references. Demographic information about each school district is also being compiled in order to provide greater context. The preliminary results of this study indicate the county’s district leaders recognize the necessity for and challenges to implementing and integrating technology programs. Through the study they provided detailed comments about their districts’ technology integration vision or plans, as well as the challenges they are facing in trying to realize those plans, including:
• The ever-changing technology environment
• Lack of funding
• The importance of support from community partners and leaders
• Challenges in the planning, communication, and roll-out of the initiatives
• Managing different levels of access to and types of technology in the schools and at home
If this proposal is accepted, further data analysis will be completed to provide more comprehensive and detailed analysis of the survey and interviews.

This needs assessment was the first county-wide effort to collect and document information from district administrators about the fluidity of mobile technology, impact of community support, and internal challenges to successful implementation of mobile technology initiatives.

Author

• Veronica Garcia Garza, University of San Diego