How do digital comfort and digital mindset affect teachers’ willingness to integrate technology into their classrooms?

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Matthew R. Haley (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Carl Lashley

Abstract: It is difficult to imagine a world without technology in schools as we are surrounded by and dependent on the tools we use each and every day. Technology integration alone is a relatively newer topic in education as the world wide web was invented less than thirty-five years ago. Since the onset of technology integration in schools research has primarily focused on access to technology in schools. Despite the billions of dollars being earmarked for technology advancement in education there have been limited evidence pointing to increased academic achievement. A shift has taken place where researchers began exploring the attitudes and beliefs of teachers and technology implementation. The research structure is largely quantitative focusing on surveys that can be easily manipulated into charts and graphs. Missing from the research on technology integration is teacher voice and this research aims to add to the topic. The purpose of this study was to gather insights from successful teachers implementing technology in their classrooms. The study aims to inform school leaders of areas of support that teachers need to feel more comfortable with technology integration. I interviewed eight technology teacher leaders for approximately one hour for each participant in person and through an online platform called Zoom. Each interview was transcribed and reviewed the transcriptions to identify codes that could be turned into categories. Once categories had come to light from the analysis, I organized them into groups where five themes emerged. Findings from the data I collected reveal the importance of a positive school culture that is based on trust and collaboration and that is the foundation to creating a successful technology implementation.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2023
Keywords
Barriers to Technology Integration, School Improvement, Teacher Digital Mindset, Technology Integration, Technology Leadership, Technology Professional Development
Subjects
Middle school teachers $x Attitudes
High school teachers $x Attitudes
Educational technology

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