Teachers' Perceptions on the Effects of Technology Integration in First through Fifth Grade Core Content Classrooms
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Affton Coleman, Teachers’ Perceptions on the Effects of Technology Integration in First
Through Fifth Grade Core Content Classrooms. Doctor of Education (Executive
Educational Leadership), May 2021, Houston Baptist University, Houston, Texas.
The purpose of this study is to examine first through fifth-grade teachers’ beliefs
regarding whether technology integration relates to increased student academic
performance. This study was created to analyze what the most influential factors are
when it comes to using technology in the classroom that could increase student academic
performance. This study revealed what encouraged teachers most when integrating
technology into their instruction. Things that encouraged teachers gave them the
knowledge and understanding to implement technology into a lesson with the proper
professional development, infrastructure, and training. In this descriptive study, the
researcher used a phenomenological qualitative research methodology. The researcher
gained knowledge as the participants shared their feelings and described their perceptions
from their own experiences. Approximately 40 current elementary school teacher
participants in Texas addressed questions on the survey about these factors. The
participants were purposefully selected and placed in categories based on their
participation using technology and being a part of a district program called Innovate
Academy/Level Up program. The instrumentation of the survey showed the variety of
participants who gave their perceptions of how integrating technology affected them in
the classroom, how it impacted student academic performance, and what programs, if
any, were the cause of students excelling. The data collected came from two different
means: (a) survey containing demographic questions and likert-type questions and (b)
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responses obtained in focus group interviews using the open-ended questions from the
survey, as well as allowing participants to orally expand their thoughts through written
responses. Information collected from the participants showed how teachers at this school
taught evenly between students learning from the teacher directly and using technology
as a tool with the curriculum. The participants showed how technology integration
impacted student academic performance. Integrating technology has shown how it can be
beneficial in so many ways for educators, administrators, students, parents, and society.
As we continue to live in a world of constant change, it is shown that people will always
need to be lifelong learners for the betterment of themselves and society.
Keywords: Engage2Learn, Innovate Academy, Level Up, Substitution, Augmentation,
Modification, Redefinition (SAMR) Model, Technology Integration.