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Open Access Dissertation

Keywords

Education--Data processing--Planning; Computers and children--Iowa--Decision making; School superintendents--Iowa--Attitudes; Academic theses;

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify factors that influence superintendents in Iowa to implement a one-to-one computer initiative. An in-depth, phenomenological based interview method was used. Two interviews were conducted with each of the five superintendents in the study. The superintendent responses were then organized using the Saskatchewan Educational Indicators, which are context, process and outcome indicators. The major questions addressed in the study were: 1. What factors influenced the decision to implement a one-to-one computer initiative? 2. What are the results of implementing a one-to-one computer initiative? 3. What decision-making process do superintendents in Iowa use when deciding to implement a one-to-one computer initiative?

Factors that influenced superintendents in the study to implement a one-to-one computer initiative were visits to other districts that had implemented a one-to-one computer initiative, student engagement, equity of student access to laptop computers and online resources, political considerations, staff readiness and doing what is best for students.

Factors that did not influence the decision of the superintendents were student achievement, enrollment trends, the bandwagon effect and budget. While budget did not influence the decision, what made this possible was the ability to fund the initiatives through two specific funding mechanisms separate from the general fund; the School Infrastructure Local Option tax and the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy.

The results of implementing a one-to-one computer initiative included greater student engagement and a change in the student/teacher relationship. This was characterized as moving away from a teacher-centered approach and toward a student-centered approach, which included students in formal and informal teaching roles with adults and peers.

The decision making process the superintendents used was similar to the process typically used when making large, district-affecting decisions. Each superintendent communicated with various stakeholder groups and most facilitated the process rather than overtly advocating for the initiative. The major departure from their typical approach included sending various teams to visit other school districts that had implemented a one-to-one computer initiative to gather information and see the initiative first hand. The study concluded with recommendations for further study.

Year of Submission

2013

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies

Department

Department of Educational Leadership and Postsecondary Education

First Advisor

Nicholas Pace

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

2013

Object Description

1 PDF file (197 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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