Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Education

Advisor

Patricia McGee

Abstract

Parents are important to the success of the one-to-one computing programs that are becoming more commonplace in secondary classrooms. Parents' opinions can influence the success of these programs or doom them to failure; however, little is known regarding parents' attitudes about these programs. To understand parental attitudes toward a one-to-one laptop program, this qualitative exploratory case study used Rogers's diffusions of innovations theory on how new ideas and technologies spread. Participants included 11 parents of students attending 2 urban secondary schools with similar demographics in the southwestern United States. Data were collected through focus group sessions, follow-up interviews, and relevant documents. Data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis and coding. Findings revealed that parents loved the one-to-one laptop program, saw technology to be a right of all students, thought that the district-managed laptops were used more for academic rather than educational purposes due to content filters and other restrictions, and believed that a central school-wide technology support system available to all stakeholders, including parents, was critical to the success of the one-to-one laptop program and approval by parents. This study may create positive social change by providing new insights and beneficial tips to educational organizations looking to use one-to-one laptop programs most effectively.

Download

Share

 
COinS