Survey results

94.7 percent of the project participants responded yes when asked if they had observed notable changes in relation to student behavior, attendance, engagement, interest, enjoyment, and specific attitudes towards learning in general as a result of their use of instructional technology as related to this project. Reflections from teachers included: 1.) "During the time that we have the use of the Macs, students who have high absenteeism records would be present and actually working." 2.) "Students are actively engaged. ACTIVELY- not just compliant. 3.) "They love using the Mac Lab, even for the simplest projects. We created digital Venn diagrams, which could have been created with paper and pencils, and can be a boring task, but the students were very into it and enjoyed it immensely simply because they were creating it on a computer." 4.) "When students use the laptops to create projects there is a much higher level of engagement, interest in the subject, and a positive attitude towards learning and even towards their peers as they collaborate to create projects collectively." 5.) " I have had students refuse to be checked out of school early because they knew they were working on their project that day. Some have asked to come in at other times to work. 6.) "Students are much more interested, engaged and excited about learning." 7.) "With the use of instructional technology, their interest in school increases, their learning increases, and the groaning that used to accompany 'You have an endangered animal project due...' has turned to cheers. I am cheering too!!!" 8.) "Less student paperwork, engagement and productivity increased, discipline is much better." 9.) "Absolutely, when I have the Mac Lab in class, attendance increases and they are interested in the project." 10.) " When we began our first computer-based project I had one 15 year-old student say to me, 'You've now given me a reason to come to school.' When we work on computers I see students focused and involved in what they are doing."

A teacher from Palatka High School shared that two of her students who were struggling with academics and who were constantly in trouble because of their behavior, created a multimedia presentation that reflected a large improvement. The students asked for permission to come in after school to complete work, showed increased interest in content being taught, and took pride in completing their assignment.

Internally, interesting related data was gathered, as our district's leadership team embarked on a project to address low achievement on standardized testing in Putnam County. As part of the initiative, data was gathered by the use of walk through observations that were designed to briefly measure student engagement and rigor. Observers noted that teachers who were using the mobile lab for instruction consistently had high levels of student engagement and students were using problem solving strategies indicative of increased rigor. This was not the norm for the data collected in the district. These results may be viewed at http://districtrankings.putnamschools.org/districtrankings/charting