Laptop Initiative Impact: Assessed Using Student, Parent, and Teacher Data

Several university researchers were invited to assist in the implementation and study of a Laptop Initiative for high school students. This initiative provided laptop computers for 247 students and 24 teachers who were grouped into ninth grade learning clusters at three schools. The research on the program's impact focused on student, teacher, and parent knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to the technology. In an effort to measure the impact of the technology integration, an affective instrument to measure knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs) with regard to technology skills was developed. A pre- and post-survey was administered to parents, teachers, and students. The instrument contained both Likert-scale questions and open-ended questions. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses revealed a number of significant differences between the schools and among the teachers, parents, and These quantitative results were supported by the qualitative findings. (C) 2007 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.