Educational Technology Commons^™

Design And Implementation Of A University Department Website, Margaret M. Rick

Graduate Research Papers

The website design cycle consists of four important components: (1) planning, (2) production, (3) implementation, and (4) operation. Within these components are a variety of vital tasks ranging from defining the objective and audience to conceptualizing the site, determining content, and creating, testing, and revising the site. Numerous rules or accepted principles guide the design process from color and font selection, to graphic creation, to site navigation layout. Once created, a website must be maintained: content should be updated and outside links verified on a regular basis. A site that is not maintained or kept current is of no benefit …

The Civil War: An Online Unit, Liz Walgamuth

Graduate Research Papers

For my final project, I decided to do an online unit for middle school students on the Civil War (Appendix). My reasoning was twofold: I am very interested in online learning and the possibilities that it holds for students, and I saw a need for additional information on this particular subject matter in the middle school where I currently teach. In the social studies department at this particular school lecture and textbook readings are the predominate form of instruction. Because the Civil War is such an interesting topic and there is plenty of information available that includes music, poetry, diary …

From Idol To Add-On To Indispensable Tool : Iowa's One-Computer Classroom, Laura M. Mcdermott

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers who ponder over past experiences can examine the revisions made in order to offer the best possible education to the children entrusted to their care. With the advent of computers in the classrooms, undeniable problems arise and further revisions must be made. When both the teacher and students share one computer, issues that must be addressed include time management, curriculum integration, and effective use of the computer.

With everyday demands of the classroom, it is difficult for teachers to spend time adding to a curriculum already filled to the brim. Time is needed for the teacher to understand how …

Portfolios--From Traditional To Digital : Research For Understanding And Implementation In The Art Classroom, Deb Ann Richmann

Graduate Research Papers

Portfolios are a method in which educators assess student work. The traditional portfolio is generally a collection of papers stored for an intended purpose. There are many types and purposes for portfolios. Technology, however, has yielded some inventive methods for managing the many papers in the portfolio in a digital format. This term, digital portfolio, represents a technological presentation of student work. The differences in hardware, software, and peripherals have been investigated in this review. Along with the tools for management, the implementation in an art classroom is explored. The sustaining impact of the digital portfolio in the art classroom …

Reading Comprehension Through Technology : The Accelerated Reader Program, Janette Schmidt

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to research the Accelerated Reader program, a computerized reading program, to see if it did improve reading skills. The Accelerated Reader program has received a lot of attention because of the belief that students are not learning to read. This is a program that has been marketed well and promises to produce results in reading skill performance. Some educators have questioned the Accelerated Reader program because of the expense and the method of motivation. Both sides of this issue will be discussed in this paper.

Does Peer Technology Training Work?, Kim Foley-Sharp

Graduate Research Papers

This research project contains lessons that were developed as a staff development tool for North High School in the Davenport Community School District. The goal of this project was to implement the use of new technology into the school building by providing the staff of the building with immediate access to trainers who would help if there were a problem or to answer questions. The other responsibilities of the trainers were to facilitate staff development sessions during the school day and on in-service days. The ultimate goal of the project was to make staff comfortable in the use of technology …

Shepherd Of The Hills/Churches Of Conference Nine Webpages, Rondee Troester

Graduate Research Papers

Shepherd of the Hills a center that serves the Churches of Conference Nine of the Northeastern Iowa Synod will be serving their congregations in another form. Webpages are being created for each of the twenty churches of Conference Nine. These churches will convey their mission statements, worship times, pastor's page, and any educational opportunities that are provided. The request was made for someone to develop these pages. The decision was made to start the process. The process began with a discussion with the coordinator from Shepherd of the Hills of which direction to go with the Webpages. Next came contacting …

The Impact Of Technology Integration On The Elementary Classroom With Reading Disabled Students, Donna Heying

Graduate Research Papers

The content of this paper will discuss and review the current literature in the area of technology integration in the elementary classroom, especially those classrooms with learning disabled students. The areas to be covered in this paper include technology's impact on student learning, legal reasons to use technology in the classroom, effective integration principles for technology integration, software and equipment for learning disabled students, Internet integration, and web-based instruction. All of these areas have an influence on how technology is integrated into the elementary classrooms and how effective that technology can be.

Preservice Teacher Technology Competencies : Investigating Levels Of Technology Use By Preservice Teachers, Allison Y. Kenkel

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to assess and determine the current level of technology competencies in preservice teachers at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). The Teacher Education Faculty at UNI developed and adopted the Preservice Teacher Technology Competencies (Appendix A), performance-based competencies modeled on several national standards documents. Preservice teachers at three different levels in the college of education program participated in this study.

This research was conducted to measure the proficiency of preservice teachers at UNI in their use of technology, specifically the educational and classroom use of technology. Measuring preservice teachers' ability to connect their knowledge …

Eastview High School Media Center Web Page : A Graduate Project, Connie J. O'Sullivan

Graduate Research Papers

This creative project was undertaken for the purpose of constructing a web site for Eastview High School Media Center that would meet the needs of users while adhering to the highest qualities of web design. As creator of the web site, I started from the beginning. I had not designed a web page before undertaking this project. I researched the tenets of good web design, especially those particular to the field of library science. I identified my audiences and their needs. I identified and selected the best and most relevant content. I familiarized myself with Microsoft FrontPage, Eastview's standard Web …

21st Century Learning Infrastructure Project, Justin F. Stone

Graduate Research Papers

This Research Project was a practical experience for gaining knowledge on web design, streaming content delivery and the creation of online, educational objects and environments. While working for the Information Technology Department for the State of Iowa, this author was involved with the 21st Century Learning Infrastructure Pilot Project, an attempt to provide learners in Iowa with educational content on demand. This content includes streaming video and audio of various content, computer based training objects, web pages, pictures, interactions with each other, etc. This author's responsibilities to the initial Pilot Project were that of lead web designer, creating five web …

Integrating Technology Into The Mathematics Curriculum, Jolonda Parrett

Graduate Research Papers

This is a Graduate Review of the actual work being implemented by a group of six math teachers at Lakeview Elementary. The initiative began because of an on-going problem of students receiving low-test scores in mathematics. Students also had a difficult time retaining the mathematics concepts and skills being taught. Through discussions and surveys, a possible solution was found . A Literacy Technology Challenge Grant from the Department of Education was awarded to help teachers learn to integrate technology within the math curriculum. Teachers are also learning new strategies that will allow students to actually grasp the concept and meaning …

Learning Technology Policies In Action : Where Do The States Stand?, Evie Charles Pugh

Graduate Research Papers

In states with technology plans, there is a common belief that technology has the power to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning environment of the classroom. Many states' technology policies and plans reflect a demand for information about student learning outcomes and the cost and benefits of education programs. The eight states in the North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NCRTEC) are: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The need for district spending in education technology, such as computer training, professional development, service/support networking, supplies, and hardware, has become a major issue …

Teacher-Controlled Web Pages And Their Impact On Home/School Communication, Colleen S. Hobus

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this action research project was to examine teacher-controlled Web pages and how they can impact school/home communication. Thirty-three eighth grade parents voluntarily responded to a survey about the communication practices between the eighth grade teachers and eighth grade parents in the Avoca-Hancock-Shelby-Tennant School District.A teacher-controlled Web page was set up and put into practice for a one and one-half month period. Parents and students were encouraged to access the Web page for daily assignment updates and special announcements.

At the end of the one and one-half month period, the parents were surveyed again and the results indicated …

Researching The Internet : A Student Tutorial, Roger S. Davis

Graduate Research Papers

This project involves the development of a series of web pages that serve as a tutorial students use for Internet searching. Students in the Computer Concepts and Applications class at Hawkeye Community College use the Internet to find information for use in an oral report or written assignment. A limited amount of general information about the mechanics of working with a web browser and a brief introduction to search engines is presented to the students in class. The tutorial will assist students by providing links to search engines, ideas in formulating a search strategy, additional more detailed information on working …

The Technology Coordinators' Web Site Project, Jason Allen Vetter

Graduate Research Papers

Technology in the schools has been a major push in Iowa schools for the past ten years. Our state legislature has given each school district within the state money to purchase technology for their district (R. Herdliska, personal communication, February, 1999). With this money, districts have been forced to look for help in purchasing this computing equipment. Sometimes they look outside for help and hire people who have been in the business world to meet this need. Sometimes they are forced to look within their building to teachers and staff members who have a "niche" with technology to meet this …

The Future Of Educational Technology, Barbara F. Erlandson

Graduate Research Papers

Presents an overview of the role of educational technology. Inadequate teacher training, minimal technical support, limited money and time are seen as barriers to successful integration. The research involving each barrier is discussed, and suggestions are made for overcoming these barriers. The importance of classroom teacher is investigated. The current uses of educational technology are discussed as well as suggestions for the successful future use of educational technology. Concludes that technology will be partnered with education; the issue to be resolved by individual schools will be how to best use it to improve the educational process.

The Prospect Of Educational Technology In Tibetan Schools In India, Penpa Dorjee

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research paper was to determine the prospect of educational technology in Tibetan schools in India. In order to look at this, an attempt has been made to determine the present status of technology in Tibetan schools by collecting data through survey, telephone interview, electronic mail, on-line resources, and documents published by related organizations.

This paper also focuses on the present situation of the Tibetan schools, and looks at the primary problems of technology integration into the schools. Through survey and telephone interview, an attempt was made to determine the attitude and motivation of teachers, administrators, and …

Concerns Based Adoption Of Instructional Technologies For Learning For Russian Pre-Service Early Childhood Education Students : A Pilot Study, Garth D. Cornish

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in concerns toward the use of instructional media for pre-service Russian elementary education teachers. Participants were a combination of 16 second- and third-year students in the early childhood department of Herzen Pedagogical University located in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) was used to gather data for the study. A pre-test was administered before a specially designed series of seminars and workshops on instructional technologies for learning were conducted. Post-test results were gathered at the conclusion of the seminars and workshops. Findings indicated that awareness levels of …

Computer Use In K-12 Classrooms, Terry J. Shaw

Graduate Research Papers

This project has two components: a survey of educators to determine how technology is being used in K-12 classrooms and a web site of software, Internet sites, and contact person in each grade level and subject area. To discover the use of technology in the K-12 classroom, a survey was sent to 3,500 educators within the Area Education Agency 7 boundaries. The results of the survey have been published on a website and will serve as a place for teachers seeking guidance on what software and Internet sites are considered "best practice." The website is divided by academic disciplines and …

Integrating Technology Into The Science Curriculum : Environmental Studies Grade 5, Lois Diane Enger

Graduate Research Papers

The project was developed to illustrate a process for including hands-on use of technology in an environmental education activity. The requirements for an integrated curriculum identified by McRel are incorporated: science, technology, language arts, math, and life skills. Activities included are discussion of the topic, writing and editing a script, digital photography, computer usage including scanning, on-site visiting, and teacher and student evaluation. The on-site visit was conducted at a nature center.

Classroom activities involved planning, research, storyboarding, organizing visual materials, script writing, and creating a computer-generated presentation using mPOWER, a presentation software program. The completed computer presentation was converted …

The Lifelong Learner And Technology, Dia L. Davis

Graduate Research Papers

The teaching strategies of the educator alter to suit the needs of the students and technology. The content integration process takes time. It has been stated that teachers' first technology projects generate excitement, but often little content learning. Often it takes a few years until teachers can use technology effectively in core subject areas.

Teachers learn to use computer technologies and learn how to bring content learning to the forefront with, in some cases, impressive results on the part of the students. Teachers eventually learn to view the learning process in concert with their new technologies and come to understand …

The Need For Technology In Homeschooling, Jonathan Luttenegger

Graduate Research Papers

Homeschooling is becoming a more popular option for parents who do not want their child to study in a public school. This literature review was developed to analyze the potential of technology for homeschooling. It does not focus on the positives or negatives of homeschooling. Instead, it focuses on the positives or negatives of technology in homeschooling. This literature review will analyze whether or not technology that is adopted by homeschooling families can make a big difference in the quality of a homeschooling program.

Student Satisfaction Of Educational Media Reference Guide For Courses 240:020 And 240:031 At University Of Northern Iowa, Velma M. Sallis

Graduate Research Papers

University of Northern Iowa students desiring to become educators are required to enroll in an introductory basic technology course. Integrating technology has become an important issue in American schools. Ritchie and Baylor (1997) argue teacher candidates will be required to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in educational technologies before acquiring their teaching credentials. How to help future educators grasp technology-related competencies and the use of technology when teaching is being addressed by many institutions of higher learning within their teacher education programs. Ritchie and Baylor suggest that in addition to providing demonstrations and hands-on experience, reference aids which detail the …

Examining How Presentation Technology Affects Communication Of Student Ideas, Barbara Besch

Graduate Research Papers

This research examines the impact of presentation technology and the effect it has on the way students communicate their ideas. Students have traditionally stood at the front of the room and talked about their research and findings. Technology offers new means in presenting student research. The class that will be participating in this study will have access to presentation software and the tools to use it effectively to create dynamic presentations. Before the process begins, students will be asked to evaluate their attitudes and feelings on presenting the results of research. They will then evaluate the overall quality of their …

Creating A Web Page For The Professional And Scientific Council At The University Of Northern Iowa, Rochelle Lee Gehrke Loonan

Graduate Research Papers

A web site was created for the Professional and Scientific Council at the University of Northern Iowa. This site can be visited at www.uni.edu/ps_council. This site was created as a resource for the Professional and Scientific Staff. It includes links to payroll and benefits, along with background of the council, listing of the council members and information on meetings and monthly events.

The methodology used to create the site will be addressed which will include discussion of why to build a site, categories of sites, planning the site, the design process, design principles and the presentation of information on …

Educational Resources On The Internet, Anna Sheets

Graduate Research Papers

The resources offered on the Internet are too numerous to be completely covered in one research paper. The focus of this research paper will be the educational resources that would be used by a business education student.

Technology In The Elementary Art Program, Michele Weisinger

Graduate Research Papers

The advancement of technology use in todays' schools has provided teachers with new teaching resources. This applies to all teachers in every curricular area at every grade level. One area of instruction in which technology has had an overwhelming effect is the visual arts. Technology has created a new art form with which artists young and old may express themselves visually. Technology has also provided art educators with a unique teaching tool to promote visual learning.

Calculators In Middle School Mathematics Classrooms, Debra Lynn Kuehne

Graduate Research Papers

Calculators can be a catalyst for all mathematical learning. Arithmetic skills are necessary life tools. Doing mental math requires basic facts mastery with estimation skills. Using a calculator successfully and evaluating the answer requires an understanding of the necessary arithmetic processes and the ability to identify a reasonable solution.

Like all technology available in the K-12 school setting, calculators should be viewed as tools to facilitate learning and logical reasoning. Students need to be prepared for the jobs of the future, many of which occupations have not yet even been created. The motivation for learning any skill in life is …

Technology And Its Impact On Language Arts, Tresa Ann Dietrich

Graduate Research Papers

Language arts is a field where technology can be worked into the writing and reading fields with word processors, CD-ROMs, and other multimedia materials that focus on communication. Learning to effectively communicate is one goal of language arts education. This encompasses speaking, listening, writing, and presentation – utilizing all the available technologies and incorporating them into highly motivating and innovative units or activities.