TEACHER PARTICIPANTS

Personal Experience with Technology

The first question of the teacher interview related to having access to a computer prior to the Urban Dreams Project.  All but one teacher indicated that they had access to a computer prior to the project.  Of those 21 respondents who had computer access during both years, comparisons were made between computer usage prior to the project and current use of computers during spring of the second year of the project.  Respondents were asked how often they used a computer for the following activities.  The options were: never, monthly, weekly, or every day  For comparison charts demonstrating before and after usage of computers for various activities, click here.

Five respondents reported no increase in use of computers for various teaching activities.  Computer activity increases were calculated by the increments of change in activity, indicating that several teachers increased their use of computers considerably during the year of participation in the Urban Dreams Project.  Activities which teachers indicated using most frequently involved using the internet.  Many teachers indicated increased usage in using the computer for lessons, units, or projects, as well as for research.

Figure 4. Number of teachers reporting increased use of computers for various activities.

Figure 5.  Increments calculated for increased computer activity in the second year of the Urban Dreams Project.  ( N=21)

Frequency of computer use for the following activities has been included.  Indications are that teachers who participated in the project increased their computer activity as a result of professional development, technical training, and  technology staff support.  See teacher comments under the Support section.  The area of least usage reported by teachers was in the use of computers for recording grades through a gradebook.  The area of the greatest usage relates to accessing the internet.  Responses clearly suggest that teachers are using the internet to prepare information, as well as do research in preparation for teaching.

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