Week 3

Students that have the opportunity to have one-to-one computing may have success in literacy and writing skills.  According to the text, at many schools it is an issue when it comes to funding.  Many extracurricular activities are being cut due to buying technology that will also be beneficial to the students.  It's very important for students to sit and use pencil and paper, yet technology is rapidly growing and becoming an essential to our daily lives.

1.    Provide the complete article title and author

This article is entitled:” Laptops and  Fourth-Grade Literacy: Assisting the Jump over  the Fourth-Grade Slump.”  It was written by Kurt A. Suhr, David A. Hernandez,  Douglas Grimes, & Mark Warschauer.

2.    State the intended audience. (What is empirical research and how does it help the classroom?)  

The intended audience for this article could range from parent, to staff members, and principals.  There are many different audiences that could benefit from this article.  Parents could greatly benefit in this article.  It displays how students could benefit from working with this type of technology.  The school’s reading coach could also benefit greatly. The artcile states that when students reach fouth grade, they have that slump where they lose interest. 

The empirical reasearch was very clear and in depth in this article.  The empirical reseach was based off observation and investigation for many years. Some school districts are still trying to figure out when to bring technology into place.  Technology is growing rapidly.  Technology is beginning to make thing in life easier and more convenient.

 

3.    What is/are the research question/questions or hypothesis/hypotheses? According to the article the hypothesis is will those fourth grade students that participated in the one-to-one laptop program have more success than those participating in the traditional learning program?” 

 

4.    Describe the subject (participants) and the procedures (methods) used by the researcher(s)?

 

There were 108 fourth grade participants.  The participants were broken down into two categories. The two groups were the control group and the treatment group. According to the selection both groups comprised students from four different classes, and each group had a different set of teachers each year.  The participants were  47% Hispanic, 28% White, 20% Asian, and 5% other/multi-ethnic/unstated. Economic and linguistic backgrounds are also diverse; 27% of the students are English Language Learners (ELLs), and in spite of pockets of affluence, 40% participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program.  The controlled group were  (laptop) were not supplied with personal laptop on a daily bases at school. They were granted varying degrees of computer access. This not only included the personal laptop,  desktop computers, computer labs, and mobile laptops.  According to the article, as the students aged, the amount of access increased slightly due to greater availability of mobile carts, and etc. (p. 14)  The treatment group went through the same process.

 

5.    What were the conclusions of the researchers? Do you agree or disagree with the conclusions? Support your position.

Researcher concluded that laptop students outperformed non-laptop student. The  areas that the students did the best in were writing strategies and literary response and analysis.(p.28)  I agree with the conclusion.  Many students at that grade level are more focused learning to write.  The internet and access to a computer in general can help students strengthen their vocabulary skills as well as their writing skills.  Computers are equipped with many programs that can help with spell check.  There are various websites that will give students insight on how to structure their writing skills.  The students are also gaining literacy by reading and comprehending the information that’s given.  There are so many websites out that will give students practice on literacy skills.

     

6.    What suggestions for further research do the authors suggest? What other suggestions for future research would you suggest?  

According to the text, a major question of many administrators when considering this or any other educational intervention is the effect it may have on standardized test scores.  I suggest the obsevation to be prolonged.  Testing beyond fouth grade should be considered.  Many middle and highschool students encounter literacy and writing skills in their academics.  There are various test that are give through the school year.  There was a wide variety of students being tested, but chances are children that are not in a low socioeconomic status has a greater opportunity to work with technology.  Many schools do not have the funding to have technology.  According to Roblyer and Doering one-to one computing will give students of all status an opportunity to use and gain knowledge such as literacy and writing skills. 

When it comes to technology many teachers often disagree.  According to the chapter many teachers disagree when it comes to distant learning and using the internet.  Teachers are afraid that many studnts will not be able to grasp the concept. (Roblyer,M. Doering, A. p.17)

Technology is becoming a very essential part of our lives.  There are various types of funding that will allow each individual child to have a laptop in class.  The students will be able to learn how to use the laptop as well as become more knowledgeable of a subject matter.

 

 

 

 

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/02/16/11-programs-only-as-good-as-their-teachers/

Seven Steps to Improving Learning with One-to-One Computing http://t.co/knlCVE8deN

— Howie DiBlasi (@hdiblasi) June 12, 2013