FACTORS RELATED TO TEACHER ADOPTION RATES AND THE DIFFUSION OF A ONE TO ONE LAPTOP INITIATIVE IN ONE RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT By Jacob Robert Quilliams Ted L. Miller David W. Rausch Professor of Learning and Leadership Professor of Learning and Leadership (Chair) (Committee Member) Elizabeth K. Crawford Nathaniel D. Line Associate Professor of Learning and Leadership External Reviewer (Committee Member) (Committee Member) FACTORS RELATED TO TEACHER ADOPTION RATES AND THE DIFFUSION OF A ONE TO ONE LAPTOP INITIATIVE IN ONE RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT By Jacob Robert Quilliams A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Learning and Leadership The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee December 2019 ii Copyright © 2019 By Jacob Robert Quilliams All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to better understand how a one to one (1:1) Chromebook classroom initiative diffused in a rural public school system. To investigate this process a unique three part mixed methods study was created. In phase one of the study, teachers using a 1:1 Chromebook classroom were asked to participate in an online quantitative survey. In phase two, a Delphi technique was used to create an interview questionnaire. In phase three, one-on-one interviews were administered to 17 teachers with different levels of innovativeness. Specifically, this study was designed to investigate how factors such as perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived use (PU), teacher demographic characteristics, and time of adoption related to teacher innovativeness. The findings of the study indicated that PEOU, PU, teachers’ ages, highest level of education, and time of adoption had a statistically significant relationship with teacher innovativeness. The results of this research can be used by teachers and school leaders to help understand how 1:1 technology is being adopted by school level users and determine what best practices can be utilized to help facilitate the diffusion of a 1:1 Chromebook classroom. iv DEDICATION A work of this scale requires an immense investment of time, energy, and determination. This dissertation is dedicated to those who sacrificed so much to allow me to achieve the stage in my life that I was able to spend the time and resources needed to complete this work. Specifically, I would like to thank my family, but especially Brian Solomon who taught me to always live life to its fullest. Brian, you may no longer be with us, but your spirit lives on in the memory and lives of all the people you have touched. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my dissertation chair, Dr. Ted L. Miller, whose wisdom and selfless guidance have helped me immeasurably during the dissertation process. I would also like to thank the other members of my dissertation committee: Dr. David W. Rausch, Dr. Elizabeth K. Crawford, and Dr. Nathaniel Line for their valuable guidance during this challenging process. Additionally, special thanks are due to my parents: Ms. Rebecca Solomon, Mr. Ira Wise, Mr. Robert Quilliams, Dr. Vickie Moore, and my brother Mr. Andrew Quilliams without whose loving support none of this would be possible. To my wife, Natalie, I want to thank you for your encouragement and love. Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues, whose participation made this study possible. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION .....................................................................................................................v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................... xiv LIST OF SYMBOLS ....................................................................................................... xvi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 Background to the Problem .....................................................................................4 Statement of the Problem .........................................................................................7 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................9 Research Questions ..................................................................................................9 Rationale for the Study ..........................................................................................10 Conceptual Framework ..........................................................................................11 Significance/Importance of Study..........................................................................18 Definition of Terms................................................................................................19 Limitations of the Study.........................................................................................20 Delimitations of the Study .....................................................................................22 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................. 24 Introduction ............................................................................................................24 History of Technology Use in the Classroom ........................................................25 History of Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) ..................................................26 One-to-One Laptop Programs ................................................................................28 Technology Adoption and Diffusion Theories ......................................................31 Technology Acceptance Model .................................................................32 Critiques of TAM Research .......................................................................33 Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) ..............................................34 vii Critiques of the CBAM ..............................................................................35 Innovation Adoption and Diffusion Theories ............................................36 Critiques of Diffusion Research .................................................................37 Teacher Technology Adoption Factors ..................................................................39 Individual Level Factors ............................................................................40 System Level Factors .................................................................................42 Chapter II Summary ...............................................................................................45 III. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 46 Research Methods ..................................................................................................46 Population ..............................................................................................................49 Sample....................................................................................................................50 Instrumentation ......................................................................................................51 Survey Instrument ......................................................................................51 Delphi Study ..............................................................................................53 One-On-One Interview Instrument ............................................................58 Research Design.....................................................................................................59 Data Analysis Techniques......................................................................................62 Quantitative Data Analysis ........................................................................63 Research Question One ..................................................................63 Research Question Two .................................................................64 Research Question Three ...............................................................64 Research Question Four .................................................................65 Research Question Five .................................................................66 Qualitative Data Analysis ..........................................................................66 Research Question Six ...................................................................66 Chapter III Summary .............................................................................................68 IV. RESULTS ......................................................................................................................... 70 Quantitative Data Results ......................................................................................70