Name______________________

Technology Practices Survey

We are asking you and other teachers in your school to respond to the following survey. We are trying to
learn about the processes through which teachers implement technology in the classroom. We are not
evaluating the effectiveness of your school, and administrators will not have access to your individual
responses. We will use the results of the research to generally help schools implement innovations.
We plan to collect the following data as part of this research project:
#

Interviews of some teachers and administrators.

This 20-25 minute survey regarding technology use and factors that affect technology use

Documents reflecting school technology use.

Completing this survey indicates your consent as a participant in this study insofar as your responses will
be analyzed. Participating in this study is voluntary, and we will keep all data collected confidential.
Your privacy will be protected to the maximum extent allowable by law.
Although we will protect your confidentiality by using a pseudonym for each school and identification
numbers for individual teachers in all publications and written reports, you or others may be able to
discern some of the identities based on reported attributes of the school and person. Identifying
information may be of the form: A senior math teacher [unnamed] at Westville [Westville is a
pseudonym] said .... Note that nothing will be published from these data until 2003.
You may contact Ashir Kumar, MD, Chairperson of UCRIHS (the human-subjects research review
board) at Michigan State University (517-355-2180), in case you have concerns or questions about your
rights in participating in this human-subjects research.
After completing the survey, please return it in the self-addressed stamped envelope that is attached. In
exchange for completing this survey you will be paid $20.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at the address below. I appreciate your taking
the time to respond to this survey.
Ken Frank, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education
Michigan State University
460 Erickson Hall
East Lansing, MI
Phone: (517) 355-8538
Fax: (517) 353-6393
E-mail: kenfrank@msu.edu

Technology Use in Elementary Schools

Technology Use

This section focuses on your use of various technologies. We are interested in frequency, purposes,
performance, etc.
1.

Please indicate how much you use each of the following technologies for educational or professional purposes:
Never
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
Phone system.....................................................................

Voice mail .........................................................................

Video/TV network.............................................................

World Wide Web...............................................................

E-mail ...............................................................................

Computers in your schools lab..........................................

Computers in your classroom ............................................

2.

How would you rate your computer use this year as compared to last year?
Much less
Less
Same
More

Much more

The next set of questions looks at your experience using computers.

3.

During the current school year what percent of

the time have you had technical problems with
the computers in the lab?

4.

During the current school year, what percent of

the time have you had technical problems with
the computer(s) in your classroom?

Less than 25%

25%-50%
51%-74%
75%-100%
Dont know

Less than 25%

25%-50%
51%-74%
75%-100%
Dont know

Of the times you have had technical problems with computers, what percent of the time ....

5. did you solve the problem yourself?

6. did you turn to others to solve the

problem?

Less than 25%

25%-50%
51%-74%
75%-100%
Dont know

Less than 25%

25%-50%
51%-74%
75%-100%
Dont know

7. Was the problem solved in an acceptable time frame?

Less than 25%
25%-50%
51%-74%

75%- 100%
Dont know

8.

During the current school year, who has most frequently helped you with the computer(s) in your classroom?
(Write first and last names in the space provided below. Then check where they work.)
In district, but not from
Name
From this school
this school
Out of district
______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

Instructional and Professional Uses of Technology

The next section focuses on specific uses of computers for instructional and professional purposes.
9. How frequently do you or your students use computers for each of the following:
Activity
Never Yearly Monthly Weekly Daily
Communication with parents (e.g., newsletters, e-mail, class Web page) ...

Teacher-student communications (e.g., response to written work, posting

schedules and activities) ............................................................................

Classroom management and/or incentives for students (e.g., reward for

completed work)........................................................................................

Record keeping (e.g., grades, attendance, IEP) ..........................................

Preparation for instruction (e.g., lesson and unit planning, downloading

materials such as pictures) .........................................................................

Student to student communication (e.g., publish student work on a Web

page, keypals, e-group projects) ................................................................

Student inquiry (e.g., student research using electronic databases,

WebQuest) ................................................................................................

Student expression (e.g., Hyperstudio, Power-Point collections of

artwork, KidPics, i-movies) .......................................................................

Core curriculum skills development (e.g., drill and practice on

MathBlaster or Reader Rabbit) ..................................................................

Remediation (e.g., repeat a lesson, Accelerated Math, Jostens) ..................

Development of basic computer skills (e.g., keyboarding, mouse skills,

trouble shooting) .......................................................................................

Sources of Professional Knowledge

This section focuses on your professional interactions and sources of new knowledge, especially with
regard to your use of technology.
10. Your name: _________________________________ (Reminder: No identifiable information will be
released to your school or anyone else.)

11. Who are your closest colleagues in your school? (Please write first and last names in the spaces provided. List
as many individuals as you wish. You do not have to use all the spaces provided.)
______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

12. With whom do you talk about new uses for computers in your teaching? (Please write first and last names in
the spaces provided, then check where they work. List as many individuals as you wish. You do not have to use
all the spaces provided.)
In district, but not
Name
From this school
from this school
Out of district

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

13. With whom do you talk about new ideas for the curriculum? (Please write first and last names in the spaces
provided, then check where they work. List as many individuals as you wish. You do not have to use all the
spaces provided.)
In District, but not
Name
From this school
from this school
Out of district

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

The next section focuses on your attitudes regarding the value of technology.
Value of Technology for Teachers
14. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each of the following statements.
Strongly Moderately Slightly Slightly Moderately Strongly
Computers can help me...
Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree
Agree
Agree
integrate different aspects of the curriculum ....

teach innovatively............................................

direct student learning .....................................

model an idea or activity ..................................

connect the curriculum to real world tasks .......

be more productive ..........................................

Value of Technology for Students

15. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each of the following statements.
Strongly Moderately Slightly Slightly Moderately Strongly
Computers can help students
Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree
Agree
Agree
develop new ways of thinking ......................

Think critically .............................................

gather and organize information ...................

explore a topic ..............................................

be more creative ...........................................

be more productive .......................................

Professional Development for Technology

Please be sure your answers total no more than 100%.
16. Please indicate approximately what percent of your technology professional development during this school
year occurred:
Dont
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Know

before school ....................................................................

After school ......................................................................

during school ....................................................................

on weekends .....................................................................

during vacation .................................................................

17. Please indicate approximately what percent of your technology professional development during this school
lasted:
Dont
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Know
a single day .......................................................................

multiple days .....................................................................

a semester ..........................................................................

a year.................................................................................

18. Approximately what percent of your technology professional development during this school year was:

continuation of technology professional development

from previous years ..........................................................
didactic (i.e., you sat and listened to lectures) ..................
interactive (i.e. instructors responded directly to your
needs and requests) ..........................................................
collaborative (i.e., you worked with other participants
during the training to achieve common goals) ..................
experimental (i.e., you experimented with technology
during the professional development) ..............................

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Dont
Know

19. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development during this school year took
place:
Dont
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Know
in your school computer lab ................................................

in your classroom ...............................................................

at a facility in your district ..................................................

at an ISD facility ................................................................

outside the district (public/private agency) .........................

20. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development was instructed by a/an:

classroom teacher ...............................................................

district technology specialist ...............................................
building technology or media specialist ..............................
administrator ......................................................................
outside specialist/consultant ................................................

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Dont
Know

21. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development involved content directly linked
to your curriculum?
Dont
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Know

22. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development engaged you in the planning
stages?
Dont
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Know

23. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development was associated with:

MEAP and/or district testing.............................................

curricular changes.............................................................
changes in hardware or administrative software (i.e.,
electronic report cards, grade books) ................................
State or national curriculum standards ..............................

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Dont
Know

24. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development helped you learn:
0%

Technology skills (i.e., word processing, Power Point) ..

How to teach technology skills to your students ..............
How to integrate technology into the curriculum.............
How to train/mentor other teachers .................................

25%

50%

75%

100%

Dont
Know

25. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development focused on how to use
technology:

to present information (i.e. Power Point).........................

With diverse learners ......................................................
for assessment (i.e. using technology to track and evaluate
student achievement, record keeping) ............................
to find information on the web for professional purposes
(i.e. lesson plans) ...........................................................
to help students navigate the web ....................................

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Dont
Know

26. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development helped you to:

manage the classroom while using technology ..................

understand procedures for accessing technology resources
(i.e. money from the district for software, technical
support) ...........................................................................
trouble shoot technology problems ...................................
access technology experts .................................................
understand district technology policies (e.g. acceptable
use, restrictions, internet use permission slips) .................

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Dont
Know

27. Approximately what percentage of your technology professional development helped you improve:
0%

your teaching style ............................................................

the content you taught.......................................................
students engagement in learning ......................................
student achievement .........................................................

25%

50%

75%

100%

Dont
Know

28. Approximately how much of what you learned from your technology professional development this year are
you continuing to use?
Dont
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Know

29. On average, how long was it before you began to use what you learned in the technology professional
development? I began to use what I learned:
The next day
The next week
The next month
Never

30. Please check any and all of the factors that motivated you to attend technology professional development this
year.
Compensation (i.e., stipends, release time, credits,
reimbursement, hardware/software resources)
Contractual stipulation

Increased professional opportunities

Recognition
My excitement to apply technology in my classroom

31. Please evaluate your professional development experiences this year

Somewhat
Inadequate inadequate
Instruction was .....................................................

The connection to my curriculum was ..................

The documentation I was given was .....................

Adequate

Somewhat
superior

Superior

Time Spent Learning About New Technologies

32. Please indicate the frequency with which you engage in each activity below.
Activity
Never Yearly
Explore new technologies on my own .......................................

Attend district or school in-service programs for new

technologies .............................................................................

Experiment with district-supported software .............................

Seek help from others to learn about new technologies .............

Attend professional-development conferences about new

technologies .............................................................................

Read professional journals about new technologies...................

Consult technology manuals .....................................................

Monthly

Weekly

Daily

Ease of Implementation
33. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with each of the following statements.
Strongly Moderately Slightly Slightly Moderately Strongly
Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree
Agree
Agree
The computer resources in my room are
adequate for my instructional needs (e.g.,
lesson and unit planning, accessing materials
such as pictures) ............................

The computer resources in my room are

adequate for student uses (e.g., student
research, writing, artwork) .............

It is easy to implement new software in this

school ............................................

It is easy to implement new hardware in this

school ............................................

District Involvement and Support for Implementation - Hardware

34. Please rate the district in terms of the following:
Providing enough hardware ................................................................
Choosing appropriate hardware ..........................................................
Providing a reliable server ..................................................................
Updating hardware .............................................................................
Providing technical support for hardware use......................................

Poor

Fair

Neutral

Good Excellent

District Involvement and Support for Implementation Software

35. Please rate the district in terms of the following:
Providing enough software .............................................................
Choosing appropriate software ........................................................
Updating software ...........................................................................
Engaging teachers in decisions about software purchases.................
Providing professional development for software use ......................
Providing technical support for software use ....................................
Recognition for technological innovation.........................................

Poor

Fair

Neutral

Good

Excellent

Views of Computer Use in Your School

36. Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements.
Strongly Moderately Slightly Slightly Moderately Strongly
Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree
Agree
Agree
Using computers helps a teacher advance
his/her position in this school............................

Others in this school are critical of teachers

uses of computers .............................................

I need to use computers to keep up in this

school ...............................................................

Others in this school expect me to use

computers .........................................................

My colleagues use computers more than I do ....

We introduce many new things in this school ...

It is difficult to implement all of the new things

in this school ....................................................

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Background
In this section, we ask about some background characteristics that may be related to technology use.
44. How many students are in your typical
class?___________

37. In what subject area(s) do you currently teach?

Please check all that apply.
Math
Science
Social Studies

English
Other

45. Are you teaching a different grade than last year?

Yes

46. Are you teaching a different subject than last

year?

38. What grade levels do you currently teach?

Please check all that apply.

K
1
2
3
4

No

Yes

5
6
7
8
Not applicable

No

47. What percentage of the curriculum you teach

changed from last year?
____________%
48. Do you have access to a computer at home?

39. What is your gender?

Male
Female

Yes (continue)
No (STOP here!)
40. Race/ethnicity (Please check all that apply.)
49. How long have you had a computer at home?

African American/Black
Native American
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic/Latino
Caucasian/White
Other

_____years ______months
50. Do you have Internet access at home?
Yes

51. What year did you first use a computer?

41. Years in teaching: ________

________

42. Years teaching in this school: _________

52. How frequently do you use your home computer

for work related to your job as a teacher?

43. How heavy is your workload this year?

No

Minimal
Engaged
Busy
Overwhelmed

Never
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Daily

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