Data

Data collected for this case study varies. In addition to providing the students with a more authentic learning experience, the researcher wanted to determine if the added technology requirement placed on students would have an impact on the amount of completed science projects submitted as well as an improvement in overall grades for the science projects. To make this determination, a review of the science project submissions and grades from the 6th grade class during the 2008-2009 school year was conducted. It was determined that ten of the current 38 7th grade students were not enrolled at Arlington during their 6th grade year. Therefore, the sample for this study was reduced to 28. The table below illustrates the findings for this data collection.
 * __ Data __**



The second type of data collected was from student/parent survey responses. The parent survey only consisted of one question and had an additional area for open comments. This survey was sent home with participating students and the researcher followed up with phone calls if the survey was not returned. The student survey was distributed and completed in class. The questions for the surveys follow. Samples of the responses from students were videotaped and are found in the student interview section of the wiki.


 * __ Student __**
 * 1) What did you think of using PowerPoint to display the process and results of your science project?


 * 1) If you were given a choice to display your science project on a trifold board or using some type of multimedia like PowerPoint, which would you choose? Why?


 * 1) Do you think that Ms. Iwanonkiw and I should continue to require students to use technology to display their science project?


 * 1) What suggestions would you give Ms. Iwanonkiw and me to improve this project for next year?

1. Which way did you prefer having your child display the process and results of their science project? Why? Of the 28 parent surveys that were sent home with students, three were returned. The researcher followed up with phone calls and was able to make contact with an additional seven parents. While one parent had concerns over her child completing the project without parent supervision, the comments indicated that the majority of parents were happy with the technology component. Some of the comments from these ten surveys/conversations are summarized below:
 * __ Parent __**
 * “I was glad the project was done using computers because it gave my child a chance to learn more about computers” ||
 * “I liked it using computers because I don’t really know anything about computers. We don’t have a computer. It was good that time was given in class to make the computer part because he wouldn’t have done it otherwise.” ||
 * “I think the whole thing should be done at school because I don’t know nothing about science or computers. I’m glad she’s learning all that stuff.” ||
 * “Well he likes computers so anything with that is good.” ||
 * “I worried that it might not get done at school without me watching over her doing it. Because when she gets on that computer she’s all over the place doing nothing…but she did it and I think she liked the project.” ||