impact of maine learning technology initiative may 2006
TRANSCRIPT
The Impact of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative
on Teachers, Students, and LearningMaine’s Middle School 1-to-1 Laptop Program
Dr. David L. SilvernailDirector
Center for Education Policy, Applied Research & EvaluationUniversity of Southern Maine
Gorham, Maine, United StatesMay 2006
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The Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) has provided all 7th and 8th
grade students and their teachers with laptop computers, and provided schools and teachers technical assistance and professional development for integrating laptop technology into their curriculum and instruction.
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Research and Evaluation Strategies: Mixed Methods Approach
1. Longitudinal survey studies with teachers, students, and principals.
2. Interviews with stratified samples of school personnel.
3. Selected site visits and observations.
4. Analysis of documents.
5. Controlled experimental study in a statewide sample of mathematics classrooms.
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Primary Data Sources
1. Surveys: Teachers (n = 4,980)Students (n = 42,575)Principals (n = 500)Superintendents (n = 117)
2. Interviews: (n = 635)3. Site Visits: (n = 54)4. Classroom Observations: (n = 60)5. Document Analysis
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Core Research and Evaluation Questions
How are the laptops being used by teachers and students?
What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction and learning?
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How are the laptops being used by teachers and students?
Teachers are using the laptops to:
57.6%
63.7%
57.6%
63.7%
48.6%
26.9%
56.6%
74.0%
54.2%
Conduct research for lesson plans
Develop instructional materials
Using presentation software
Providing classroom instruction
Produce homework assignments
Assess student work
Manage student information
Communicate with colleagues
Communicate with parents
Creating & Providing
Instruction
Assessment & Monitoring
Communication
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Students use the laptops to:
Use in Learning Context*
44.2%
18.2%
42.4%
41.4%
78.9%
Use laptop to write firstdrafts and edit papers
Use laptop to work withspreadsheet/databases
Use laptop to take notes
Use laptop to organizeinformation
Use laptop to research infoon Internet or World Book
* Frequency: Range = at least once a week to several times daily.
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Students use the laptops to:Use in Learning 21st Centure Skills*
60.5%
41.2%
37.5%
51.2%
58.3%
39.8%
35.9%
35.7%
33.9%
Gather data from multiple sources tosolve problem.
Gather data about real-life problem.
Learn by using laptop to interact withworld outside school.
Evaluate info obtained on the internet.
Learn things from more than one subjectat once.
Critically analyze data or graphs from themedia.
Solve complex problems by analyzing andevaluating info.
Explain problem-solving process orthinking.
Visually represent or investigateconcepts.
Gathering Information
Analyzing Information
* Frequency: Range = at least once a week to several times daily.
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What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction & learning?
Teacher Responses
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
I canindividualizecurriculum to
fit studentneeds with
laptop
Having alaptop hashelped me
access moreup-to-date
info
I can betteraccess diverse
teachingmaterials and
resources
I can covermore materialin class when
we uselaptops
I can exploretopics in
greater depthwith mystudents
Use of laptopshelps me
creatematerials
which bettermeet statelearning
standardsSomewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree
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What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction & learning?
Teacher Responses: Impact on Facilitating Learning
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Students more activelyinvolved with learning
when use laptops.
Students do more workwhen using laptops.
Students more apt torevise/edit work when
done on laptops.
Laptops allow mystudents to get workdone more quickly.
My students are moreorganized when we use
laptops.
Laptops make it easierfor students to gather
information fromdifferent sources.
Somewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree
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What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction & learning?
Teacher Responses: Impact on Student Learning
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
The quality of mystudents' work
increases when we usethe laptops.
My students are betterable to understand
when we use laptops.
My students are moreengaged when we use
laptops.
Laptops havefacilitated students'ability to integrateinformation frommultiple sources.
Students learning tocritically assess qualityof info they obtained
from Internet.
Students are able toexpress ideas more
effectively when usinglaptops.
Students better ableto study real-lifeissues/problems
using laptops thanwithout them.
Somewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree
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What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction & learning?
Student Responses: Impact on Work and Learning
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
I am more likely to edit mywork when it is done on the
laptop.
I get my work done morequickly now that I have my
laptop.
I do more work when I usemy laptop.
I am better able tounderstand my school work
when we use laptops.
The quality of my work hasimproved since I received
my laptop.
I am more interested inschool when we use the
laptops.
Somewhat Agree Agree Strongly Agree
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What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction & learning?
Student Responses: Students Capable of doing these 21st Century Skills Effectively:
96%
71%
73%
64%
70%
65%
96.2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Use Word Processor
Use Spreadsheet to calculate
Use Spreadsheet to creategraphs
Use Database to sortinfo/create reports
Use Online discussions togather info
Use Multimedia software
Use Search engines
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Teachers: Improvements in students’ engagement and learning in the following areas:
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
ClassParticipation
Interactionwith Teacher
Interactionwith Students
Motivation Engagement WorkIndependently
Multi-tasking
Traditional At-Risk High-Achieving Special Education
What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction & learning?
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What are the impacts of the laptops on instruction & learning?
Teacher Responses: Overall Impact on Learning & Skill Development
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
Data indicate thattechnology is positively
affecting studentengagement
Data indicatetechnology is positively
affecting studenttechnology literacy
Data indicate a positiveeffect on 21st Century
skills
Data indicatetechnology is positively
affecting studentachievement
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What do principal’s report as the impacts of the laptops on learning?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Achievement of StateLearning Standards
Achievement by at-riskstudents
Achievement by specialneeds students
Achievement by higherachieving students
Student learning
Some Improvement Significant Improvement
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Has the laptop program improved student learning on standardized achievement tests?
Generally still unknown at this time.
Reasons:• Local autonomy in laptop implementation.• Limitation of state standardized tests.
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Example of Achievement Results
Comparison of Online and Paper MEA Writing Samples
StatisticsWriting
Online PaperAverage 539.6* 536.6
SD 9.9 9.2n 1,816 14,870
* Statistically significant difference (p<.05); Effect Size = .326
Related Research Evidence:> In higher performing schools, students use their laptops more often
for composing, drafting, and creating final written reports.> Students using their laptops for writing have greater probability of
success in achieving proficiency on state standards.
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Example of Achievement Results
Maine Impact Study of Technology Mathematics (MISTM) Randomized field trial using experimental research design. Approximately 240 Experimental and Comparative (control) classrooms in 45
Maine middle schools are participating in the study. A two-year technology-infused professional development intervention is provided. Standardized tests were developed and validated for measuring State of Maine
mathematics achievement standards. Year One Preliminary results:
Teachers in Experimental classrooms report they are more competent in teaching mathematics using technology.
Students in Experimental classrooms are performing significantly (p<.05) better than students in Comparative classrooms on standardized tests measuring Maine mathematics standards.
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Two Keys to Successful ProgramResearch Evidence
Administrative SupportTeachers who report strong school administrative support:• Use laptops more in developing lessons, providing instruction, and
individualizing the curriculum.• Report greater student engagement and higher student achievement.
Professional DevelopmentTeachers who report more participation in effective professional development
activities:• Spend more time creating lessons and delivering instruction using the
technology.• Are better able to customize their lessons and instructions to meet
individual student needs.• Report higher quality student work and more, and deeper student
understanding of content.
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Summary:
There is a growing body of evidence that Maine’s Learning Technology Initiative (middle school laptop program) is impacting teachers, students, and learning in many positive ways:
o Teachers are more effectively helping children achieve Maine’s state learning standards.
o Students are more motivated to learn, are learning more, and learning it more deeply.
o Students are acquiring 21st Century skills.
o The one-to-one laptop program is bringing about positive change in the acquisition of knowledge.
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It is changing the nature of acquiring knowledge because it:
1. Increase access to up-to-date information.2. Increases speed and type of learning.3. Increases customizing and individualizing
student learning.4. Optimizes teachable moments.5. Levels the learning playing field.6. Transforms role of teacher from gatekeeper to
provider of gateways to learning and knowledge.
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http://www.usm.maine.edu/cepare
http://www.mistm-maine.usInquiries may be directed to Dr. David L. Silvernail at:
Telephone: 207.780.5044Email: [email protected]
Copies of MLTI research and evaluation reports available on the following website: