1 Technology Professional Development Phenomena in Today’s Schools A doctoral thesis presented by Ryan McGee to The School of Education In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education College of Professional Studies Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts March 17, 2015 2 Abstract This Interpretive Phenomenological case study explores the Technology Director’s understanding of technology professional development phenomena in today’s public K-12 schools. This research was conducted to provide a greater understanding of technology needs in school systems in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Through interviews with current technology directors, significant themes emerged from current practices. These themes were The Call to Educational Technology, The Role of a Technology Director, Technology Proficiency, and Professional Development. These themes were further analyzed resulting in significant findings. The significant findings that emerged as a result of this case study were categorized into three main categories which were Pedagogical Beliefs of Technology Directors, Technology Proficiency and Technology Director’s Understandings of Professional Development. This research can help school districts gain a better understanding of the role of the educational technology leader. This research documents current technology professional development findings in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The information in this research gives stakeholders a better understanding of technology professional development and how a TPACK theoretical framework and Adult Learning Theory can generate important technology conversation. These finding can provide a means to share current practices and focus on future implementation of technology professional development. 3 Keywords: Technology Professional Development, Technology Directors, technological- pedagogical-content knowledge (TPACK), technology education, professional development. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................7 CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .......................................................................................................... 8 THE TOPIC ............................................................................................................................................... 8 RESEARCH PROBLEM ........................................................................................................................... 10 JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RESEARCH PROBLEM ............................................................................ 10 DEFICIENCIES IN EVIDENCE ............................................................................................................... 12 AUDIENCES ............................................................................................................................................. 12 SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH PROBLEM ......................................................................................... 15 POSITIONALITY STATEMENT ............................................................................................................. 16 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK.............................................................................................................. 19 TPACK FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................................ 20 ADULT LEARNING THEORY ................................................................................................................ 24 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK CONCLUSION ................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER 2 - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 28 HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.......................................................................................... 28 ROLE OF A TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR ................................................................................................ 32 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT .......................................................................................................... 34 TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS ................................................................................................................. 39 DEFINITION OF TERMS IN RESEARCH ............................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER 3 - METHODOLOGY RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................................ 45 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................... 46 RESEARCH DESIGN ............................................................................................................................... 46 RESEARCH TRADITION ........................................................................................................................ 47 SITE AND PARTICIPANTS ..................................................................................................................... 50 RECRUITMENT AND ACCESS .............................................................................................................. 52 DATA COLLECTION ............................................................................................................................... 53 DATA STORAGE ..................................................................................................................................... 54 DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................... 55 TRUSTWORTHINESS.............................................................................................................................. 56 CHAPTER 4 – RESEARCH FINDINGS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 59 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................................ 60 DATA COLLECTION AND PARTICIPANT INFORMATION .............................................................. 60 TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR 1: JOHN ..................................................................................................... 61 TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR 1: JEN ........................................................................................................ 65 TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR 1: MARY ................................................................................................... 70 TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR 1: NANCY ................................................................................................. 75 5 CHAPTER 4 (Continued) – RESEARCH FINDINGS THEMES .................................................................................................................................................... 79 CALL TO EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY ........................................................................... 79 THE ROLE OF A TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR ....................................................................... 82 TECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY ............................................................................................... 86 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................... 89 INCONSISTENCIES ................................................................................................................................ 94 CHAPTER SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 96 CHAPTER 5 – DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 98 CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESEARCH ........................................................................................................ 98 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................................ 99 PEDEGOGICAL BELIEFS OF TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORS FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................. 100 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................... 100 LITERATURE ............................................................................................................................ 102 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE ............................................................................................ 103 IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH .......................................................................... 104 TECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................. 104 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ..............................................................................................