DOCUMENT RESUME ED 265 829 TITLE the Use of the Computer In
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 265 829 IR 011 953 TITLE The Use of the Computer in Louisiana Schools. Fourth Annual Report. Bulletin 1679, Revised. INSTITUTION Louisiana State Dept. of Education, 3aton Rouge. Office og Research and Development. PUB DATE Mar 85 NOTE 139p.; For the first, second, and third reports, see IR 011 952, ED 234 764, and ED 254 196. PUB TYPE Statistical Data (110) -- Reports - Research /Technical (143) -- Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Computer Assisted Instruction; *C ,3mputer Literacy; Elementary Secondary Education; *Microcomputers; Public Schools; Questionnaires; Research Methodology; School Surveys; State Departments of Education; *State Surveys; Tables (Data); Teaching Methods; *Use Studies IDENTIFIERS Computer Uses in Education; *Louisiana ABSTRACT Designed to follow up a 1981-82 stuZy which established base line information on microcomputers and theiruse for K-12 schools in Louisiana and two subsequent annual surveys, this report presents information for the 1984-85 school year. After a brief introduction describing the population surveyed and instruments used, survey findings are summarized; figures are based on responses from 911 schools (61%) and 65 local education agencies (98%). Detailed survey results are then presented in 17 data tables which show: (1) institutions not using computers in instruction; (2) percentage of schools using and not using computers between the years 1981 and 1985; (3) computer utilization by grade levels; (4) distribution of computer use in the schools across subjectareas; (5) total number of computers in the schools, 1981-1983; (6) number of computers by make and model; (7) functional use of computers and number of students served; (8) demographics of student.: taking courses which utilize computers; (9) number of schools with special programs that encourage girls or special education students to use computers; (10) number of schools with access to district computer planning; (11) selected locations of computers within schools; (12) computer software sources; (13) sources of computer equipment maintenance; (13) average and total number of *eachers receiving computer training; (14) number of schools using other technologies in conjunction with computers; (15) sources of funds for computers; (16) number of schools reporting various sources of funds used to purchase computers; and (17) number of schools by type purchasing col. -Atiers from the state contract. Also included are five recommendations for the Louisiana Department of Education, the survey instrument, and four appendices which provide raw data from the survey. (JB) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by 'MRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** THE USE OF THE COMPUTER IN LOUISIANA SCHOOLS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OERI EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This dozurnent has been rsproducied received from the person of OrganizattOn originating it I J Minor changes have bun madeto improve FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT reptoduction cuatev Potnts of view or opinions stated in this docu mint do not necessanty repiesent off iced position oi policy BULLETIN 1679 73- PREPARED BY BUREAU OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MARCH 1985 LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THOMAS G. CLAUSEN, SUPERINTENDENT "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY S. Ebarb TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." TI'E USE OF THE COMPUTER IN LOUISIANA SCHOOLS FOURTH ANNUAL, REPORT Bulletin 1679 Prepared by Bureau of Management Information Systems Office of Research and Development Revised March 1985 Issued by LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Thomas C. Clausen, Superintendent This public document was printed at a total cost of $722.26;(200) copies of this public document were printed in this second printing at a cost of $358.00. The total cost of all printings of this document, including reprints, is $722.26. This document was printed by the Louisiana Department of Education, P. O. Box 44064,Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9064, to aid in the transfer of computer tecnnclogy under authority of Public Law 91-600. This material was rrinted in accordan,:e with the standards for printing by state agencies established pursuant to R.S. 43:31. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page introduction 1 The Pcr..zlation 1 The Instrument 1 Findings 2 Conclusions and Recommendations 11 Appendices and Their Uses 13 Appendix A. Sample Survey Instrument 15 Appendix B. List of Schools Responding, Showing the Grade Levels and Subject Areas, Listed by School Within Parish 19 Appendix C. List of Models of Computers Reported by Schools, Listed by School Within Parish 40 Appendix D. List of Models of Computers Reported by Schools, Listed by School Within Parish Within Make of Computer 81 4 THE USE OF THE COMPUTER IN LOUISIANA SCHOOLS INTRODUCTION The proliferation of computers in Louisiana schools is accelerating at an astounding rate. The Louisiana Department of Education has made a concentrated effortin developing its role of providing information and guidance to the teachers and administrators. The current status of the use of computers in our Louisiana schools wLs measured to identify problems and needsin our educational community inorder thatthe Department could design its activities to aid Louisiana schools in the effectiveuse of computers. This publication briefly reports on the findings of the fourth annualsurvey. Anyquestions regarding the analyses ofthese surveys should be directed to Dr. John Hubbell at (504) 342-0090. The results of the first threesurveysaredescribed in earlier annual versions of Bulletin 1679. THE POPULATION According tothe Louisiana Department of Education Annual Report, there arc currently 1,488 public schools and 420 nonpublic schools in the State of Louisiana. The public schools are distributed among 66 Local Education Agencies (LEA's). In 1981-1982 the Superintendent of each LEA was contacted by the Department, and a short survey instrument was designed and mailed to the individual designated by each LFA Superintendent as the Instructional Computing Coordinator. Annually since then, similar survey instruments were sent to all public and nonpublic schools. For the 1984-85 school year the survey instrument was sent to all schools by November 1, 1984. THE INSTRUMENT The survey instrument, designed to capture information on the instructional use of the computer in the schools, iF. shown in Appendix A. I., 1 0 FINDINGS Of the schools contacted.911 school) responded voluntarily to the survey. Ofthe 66 LEA's involved,all but oneresponded. All LEA's responding were using computers in two or more schools. In the first year's survey, only 60 LEA's had microcomputers inone or more schools. Currently, 762 of the respondin3 schools are using computers in instruction and149 are not (Table 1). These figures indicate 84 percent of the schools are using computers this year compared with 81 percent in 83-84, 32 percent in 82-83, and 27 percent in 81-82 (Table 2). The distribution of instructionalcomputing acrossgrades (Table 3) shows that allgrade levels--K through 12--are involved, with the most involvement at the fifth grade level. Last year grade 12 ranked first. Of interest is the increase in activity in grades 3,4,5, and 6. Table 4 shows the distribution of computer use across subject areas. Once again, the computer is used most in mathematics courses. A total of 482 computers was reported by the schools in January of 1982; in October 1982 the total was 1,373.Thus in less than one year, the number almost tripled. Last year the number was 4,350. This is mcre than three times the previous year's count (Table 5). This year's total was 6,844. The rate at which schools are acquiring computers is slowing down. For the fourth year in a row the Tandy Corporation computers maintainedtheirplaceas themost widely usedcomputers (Table 6). However their lead over Apple, in the nueer two position, has decreased. This year the Tandy compucers represent 27.3 percent of the units, and Apple is next wit 26.5 percent. :ast year the Tandy computers represented 34 percent of the units, and Apple came next with 27 percent. This year Frankin, which is Apple compatible, is in third place with 19.7 percent. Thenumbers of schoolsemploying the computer in the following functional areas are listed from most used toleast used in Table 7. Computer Assisted Instruction and Computer Education Instruction were first and second in number of schools. 2 6 Table 1. Number of schools,public andnonpublic,using and notusing compLters in instruction in each parish or local education agency (LEA)*. Number Number Number Number of of of of Parish Schools Schools Parish Schools Schools or Using Not or Using Not LEA Using LEA Using Acadia 16 2 Natchitoches 8 0 Allen 7 0 Orleans 77 14 Ascension 6 0 Ouachita 16 3 Assumption 3 1 Plaquemines 7 0 Avoyelles 9 1 Pointe Coupee 5 0 Beauregard 3 0 Rapides 30 2 Bienville 4 0 Red River 2 0 Bossier 15 0 Richland 5 1 Caddo 37 12 Sabine 6 0 Calcasieu 32 6 St.Bernard 12 0 Caldwell . St.Charles 11 0 Cameron 6 0 St.Helena 1 0 Catahoula 6 0 St.James 8 0 Claiborne 5 1 St.John 6 3 Concordia 9 1 St.Landry 11 11 Desoto 5 4 St.Martin 5 2 East Baton Rouge 69 5 St.Mary 19 4 East Carroll 6 0 St.Tammany 16 5 East Feliciana 2 1 Tangipahoa 13 4 Evangeline 6 1 Tensas 4 0 Franklin 7 0 Terrebonne 13 9 Grant 2 0 Union 2 Iberia 14 1 Vermilion 9 '3 Iberville 10 1 Vernon 7 1 Jackson 6 0 Washington 2 1 Jefferson 58 10 Webster 8 3 Jefferson Davis 10 4 West Baton Rouge 6 0 Lafayecte 20 10 West Carroll 3 0 LaFourche 4- 1 West Feliciana 2 0 LaSall. 3 2 Winn 4 2 Lincoln 12 0 City of Monroe 9 1 Livingston 8 5 City of Bogalusa 3 1 Madison 3 1 Morehouse 11 1 TOTALS 762 149 *Computer Use Survey, January 1985 911 schools responding 3 7 Table 2.