Home Educators' Perspectives on Teaching with Technology
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At Home with Technology: Home Educators’ Perspectives on Teaching with Technology By ©2018 Beverly Pell M.Ed., Concordia University, Portland, 2013 B.A., California State University, Fullerton, 1992 Submitted to the graduate degree program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ___________________________ Chair: Suzanne Rice, Ph.D. ___________________________ John L. Rury, Ph.D. ___________________________ Jennifer C. Ng, Ph.D. ___________________________ Yong Zhao, Ph.D. ___________________________ Steven H. White, Ph.D. Date Defended: October 8, 2018 The dissertation committee for Beverly Pell certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: At Home with Technology: Home Educators’ Perspectives on Teaching with Technology _____________________________ Chairperson: Suzanne Rice, Ph.D. Date approved: November 29, 2018 ii Abstract The purpose of this research was to understand how and why home educators are schooling their children using technology. First, I explore how home educators use technology for homeschooling. Second, I investigate how home educators see themselves as teachers when using technology. Several themes emerged from the data revealing that home educators believe technology enables them to provide high quality curriculum and individualized instruction and to create a constructive and engaging learning environment for their children. Data were collected by convenience sampling with a survey of 316 (N = 316) home educators from 52 different territories, states, provinces, and countries across the globe, a nonrandom sample which is not representative of the entire homeschooling population. The quantitative data provide a specific picture of home education, reasons for homeschooling, and home educators’ perceptions of technology use in their homeschool. Qualitative data were obtained through open-ended questions on the questionnaire and through thirteen in-depth interviews with home educators from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Data analysis was inductive, using a constant comparative methodology to identify meanings and values held by homeschool parents providing an important part of the overall picture. The data in this study show that home educators use technology to evaluate and purchase curriculum, to deliver and supplement instruction, to offer what they see as an appropriate and personalized education, and to gain social, emotional, and professional support from other homeschoolers. Results of this study suggest that using technology to access a wide variety of curricula, to connect with and support fellow teachers, and to provide individualized instruction in an engaging environment might lead to better educational experiences for numerous students and teachers. iii Acknowledgments This dissertation would not have been completed without the help of my trusted, kind, wise and generous adviser, Dr. Suzanne Rice. I am grateful for her helpful direction and constant encouragement throughout the entire process. I would also like to thank Dr. John Rury for his patience and encouragement as he challenged me to improve this dissertation. Thank you also to Dr. Jennifer Ng whose practice and understanding of qualitative research is inspiring. Thank you to Dr. Yong Zhao and Dr. Steven White for their feedback and support during this endeavor. Thank you to all of the home educators who participated in this study, especially to the interviewees who willingly extended the conversation and kindheartedly shared their experiences with openness and honesty. Finally, thank you to my family. My husband’s unending love and encouragement helped me keep going in the midst of hardship. My children’s patience and understanding reminded me that I was going in the right direction. My mom and dad never tired of cheering me on. Thank you, God, for helping me finish this work. James 1:17. iv Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ viii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ ix Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................10 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 11 Context and Personal Interest ................................................................................................ 12 Conceptual Framework ......................................................................................................... 12 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................. 13 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................... 14 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 2 Literature Review .......................................................................................................16 Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 17 History .................................................................................................................................. 18 Legality ................................................................................................................................ 21 Democracy and Home Education .......................................................................................... 23 Technology and Education .................................................................................................... 26 Home Educators’ Reasons For Homeschooling ..................................................................... 28 Homeschooling Methods ...................................................................................................... 31 Technology Use in Traditional Schools ................................................................................. 32 v The Evolution of Home Education ........................................................................................ 34 Chapter 3 Methods......................................................................................................................35 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................... 35 Study Design ........................................................................................................................ 40 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 41 Research Questions for Interviewees ..................................................................................... 43 Participant Collection Process ............................................................................................... 43 Data Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 53 Validity and Trustworthiness of Data .................................................................................... 55 Ethical Issues ........................................................................................................................ 56 Limitations ........................................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 4 Results ........................................................................................................................57 Survey Results ...................................................................................................................... 57 Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 59 Reasons for Homeschooling .................................................................................................. 60 Home Educators’ Views of Teaching With Technology ........................................................ 64 Most Satisfying Part of Using Technology ............................................................................ 67 Challenges of Using Technology .......................................................................................... 69 How Technology Has Changed ............................................................................................. 70 Teenagers New to Homeschooling ........................................................................................ 73 Interview Results Converged With Survey Results...............................................................