An Analysis of a One-to-One Technology Program : Teachers' Perceptions Regarding the Implementation of a School District's Technology Initiative

There has been a push in educational systems to infuse technology in their curricula to promote and develop digital age skills that will allow students to compete in a global society. It is imperative for schools to understand that the implementation of a one-to­-one technology program should not be undertaken until a comprehensive plan of action has been formulated to ensure that the program is implemented with fidelity, and taking into account the human element along with the financial element, which are key components of a these programs. This study evaluated a one-to-one technology program that has been in existence for over four years to better understand the successes and shortfalls of the program in order to determine if the initiative should be expanded to include grades one and two. The mixed-methods approach to the research utilized the perceptions of 55 teachers to answer the three guiding research questions regarding the implementation that included what was effective and ineffective about the current one-to­-one technology program, and what needs to occur for effective implementation if the program is expanded to include grades one and two. The assessment tool highlighted the traits found in highly effective one-to-one technology programs, and the degree to which the presence of each trait was identified by teachers' perceptions using a Likert Scale. The results of this study will be used to determine the effectiveness of the current program as well as making recommendations for improvement. The results will provide the district administration with data that will be used to determine if the program should be expanded to include grades one and two. The final outcome of this research will be to provide an assessment tool that can be used by other educational entities to develop a comprehensive technology plan that will ensure that all components of the program are implemented with fidelity while ensuring fiscal responsibility.