Cathy Cavanaugh

Florida’s EETT Leveraging Laptops Initiative and Its Impact on Teaching Practices

Abstract This study measures changes in teaching practices that occurred during a school year that included laptop implementation and professional development. The changes were documented through direct observations of more than 400 classrooms in more than 50 K–12 schools in 11 Florida districts. Trained observers used two valid observation instruments to measure teaching practices and technology use. The Mantel-Haentzel procedure was used to infer statistical differences between fall and spring observations. Observed percentages, means, standard deviations and effect sizes are provided. Results suggest laptop implementation and professional development can lead to increased student-centered teaching, increased tool-based teaching, and increased meaningful use of technology. This research suggests that laptop implementation coupled with professional development may have an immediate impact on instructional practices.

Effectiveness of Interactive Online Algebra Learning Tools

This study of student performance in an online Algebra course looked at the development, implementation, and evaluation of interactive tools for graphing linear equations. The study focused on an interactive tool that was evaluated with virtual school Algebra students for a challenging component of the course. The performance of these students in the course on the component was compared to the performance of students who did not use the intervention. The performance of students learning in the online course with the interactive tools was equivalent to that of not using the tools. The implications of the unique nature of the online Algebra course for teacher preparation are discussed.

An Evaluation of the Conditions, Processes, and Consequences of Laptop Computing in K-12 Classrooms

This article examines how laptop computing technology, teacher professional development, and systematic support resulted in changed teaching practices and increased student achievement in 47 K-12 schools in 11 Florida school districts. The overview of a large-scale study documents the type and magnitude of change in student-centered teaching, technology tool-based teaching, and student learning that were observed in 440 classrooms over the course of a school year. By employing multiple observations in all schools, document analysis, interviews, and teacher inquiry, an account of the conditions, processes, and consequences (Hall, 1995) of laptop computing was generated. Based on the analysis of data, laptop computing had a positive impact across districts, particularly in regard to changes in teaching practices. Increases in student achievement were also demonstrated across districts. This study calls attention to systemic issues associated with successful laptop implementation and provides implications for statewide laptop programs.

Instructional multimedia: An investigation of student and instructor attitudes and student study behavior

BackgroundEducators in allied health and medical education programs utilize instructional multimedia to facilitate psychomotor skill acquisition in students. This study examines the effects of instructional multimedia on student and instructor attitudes and student study behavior.MethodsSubjects consisted of 45 student physical therapists from two universities. Two skill sets were taught during the course of the study. Skill set one consisted of knee examination techniques and skill set two consisted of ankle/foot examination techniques. For each skill set, subjects were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The control group was taught with live demonstration of the examination skills, while the experimental group was taught using multimedia. A cross-over design was utilized so that subjects in the control group for skill set one served as the experimental group for skill set two, and vice versa. During the last week of the study, students and instructors completed written questionnaires to assess attitude toward teaching methods, and students answered questions regarding study behavior.ResultsThere were no differences between the two instructional groups in attitudes, but students in the experimental group for skill set two reported greater study time alone compared to other groups.ConclusionsMultimedia provides an efficient method to teach psychomotor skills to students entering the health professions. Both students and instructors identified advantages and disadvantages for both instructional techniques. Reponses relative to instructional multimedia emphasized efficiency, processing level, autonomy, and detail of instruction compared to live presentation. Students and instructors identified conflicting views of instructional detail and control of the content.

Effect of Interactive Multimedia on Basic Clinical Psychomotor Skill Performance by Physical Therapist Students

Background and Purpose. Physical therapist educators are challenged to provide quality instruction in psychomotor skills. Multimedia instruction may facilitate and enhance psychomotor skill acquisition and therefore is of significant interest to physical therapist educators. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between physical therapist student cognitive and psychomotor performance on basic clinical skills when taught traditionally versus with interactive multimedia. Subjects. Participants were recruited from 2 physical therapist programs. Twenty‐four students volunteered to participate from Program 1 and 21 students volunteered from Program 2. Methods. Students were randomly assigned to an instructional strategy: (1) an experimental group receiving an instructional CD of clinical orthopedic techniques for the knee and practice with instructor feedback, or (2) a control group receiving live demonstration of clinical orthopedic techniques for the knee and practice with instructor feedback. Instructional strategies were then switched for instruction of clinical skills for the ankle/foot. Results. Written examination scores improved with both instructional strategies, demonstrating no differences observed between the strategies. No differences in practical examination knee scores were observed between instructional strategy groups. Practical examination ankle scores were significantly higher in participants receiving CD instruction than in participants receiving live presentation. Age and sex were found to have no effect on written or practical scores. Discussion and Conclusion. This study supports the use of multimedia instruction as an effective strategy to instruct clinical skills related to the knee and ankle. A better understanding of the role of multimedia instruction in teaching psychomotor skills will aid physical therapist educators in improving the performance of clinical skills by future clinicians.

Factors influencing student academic performance in online high school algebra

This paper describes the effect of teacher comments, students’ demographic information and learning management system utilisation on student final scores in algebra courses in a K–12 virtual learning environment. Students taking algebra courses in a state virtual school in the Midwestern US region during 2007–2008 participated in this study. Student final scores on these courses were collected using tests administered at the end of semester in the virtual school courses. The hierarchical linear modelling technique was used for data analysis to account for the influence of school characteristics on student final scores. The results show these factors have different influences on student final scores in different algebra courses. The discussion of the findings addresses the implications for teaching.

Development and Management of Virtual Schools: Issues and Trends

Virtual schools are a result of widespread changes in knowledge about learning, in available technology and in society. This work brings together knowledge of virtual schools as a reference, and reviews best practice from concept and development, through implementation and evaluation.

Interactive Maps for Community in Online Learning

ABSTRACT The online courses studied here used the visual medium of the interactive geographic map as a form of dialogue to reduce students’ sense of transactional distance during the course, build their skills with Web 2.0 media, and increase their motivation. Using the dynamic map and the related online spreadsheet, the course participants created digital maps in which they interacted spatially. The maps supported active participation in the course and put the students in control as they visualized the relationships between other course members’ locations and themselves. Interactive course maps are recommended for reducing transactional distance and to support team building.

Virtual Middle School Courses to Support Anytime, Anyplace Learning

The middle school years are a pivotal academic and social transition period that sets the stage for future educational success. Differentiated and personalized learning support middle school success across the spectrum of student abilities. Online courses are well-suited for meeting individual needs at the middle school level when they incorporate flexible timelines and interaction among students and teachers.

Leaders of School Technology Innovation: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Change Facilitator Style Questionnaire (CFSQ)

Purpose – This paper aims to describe a construct validation study of the Change Facilitator Style Questionnaire (CFSQ), an instrument designed to measure the leadership style of school principals as change facilitators.Design/methodology/approach – Participants included 614 K‐12 teachers across the state of Florida involved in the Enhancing Education Through Technology competitive grant program. Teachers completed the CFSQ to assess their overall perceptions of their principals in supporting a technology integration initiative. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed and carried out to verify the instrument factor structure. Five models were developed based on theory and practice, and were tested using CFA.Findings – The results showed the evidence of the CFSQs reliability and validity.Research limitations/implications – Further research was recommended based on the results and limitations of this study.Originality/value – Little research has connected principal style to classroom technology ado...