Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Darci Harland

Abstract

This phenomenological study addressed the lack of understanding of how teachers implement personal devices in the classroom and whether the instruction is constructivist in nature. Although mobile technology is convenient, it is not yet understood if Bring Your Own Device/Technology (BYOD/BYOT) programs encourage a teacher pedagogy shift. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of 10 teachers in Grades 6 to 12 who had been part of a BYOD/BYOT program for more than 2 years. Data from interviews and lesson demonstrations were analyzed via a constructivist framework first identifying themes and then categories. Teachers perceived that using mobile technology provided the replacement of old tools, instructional planning changes, and the shifting of learning to the students from the traditional design of the teacher as the lecturer to the teacher as the facilitator. Teachers experienced more student engagement and collaboration although they needed to monitor students more carefully to avoid students' being off task and to ensure safety usage of the mobile devices in the classroom. There are implications for social change both on the local and organizational level. Teachers can better understand how their pedagogy aligns with constructivist teaching and learning, and therefore can see where they still need to grow. On the organizational level, school districts may better understand that using technology at first will be used to replace previous pedagogy practices directly and that it will take support and time for technology implementation to impact changes in teachers' philosophy of teaching.

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