Laptops and Student Motivation

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Laptops and Student Motivation

• By
• Bonnie Rau

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My Question

• My first question was, Will the laptop lab
  improve low-level learner student motivation?
• Once I started researching I changed the question
  to Will the laptops motivate all students?

3
Freedom to Learn

• Our school wrote a grant for 63 HP laptops with
  carts. I am the Super Coach for this program.
• Hale is a very low income community with minimal
  technology information and equipment.

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Four Students

• Katie Low-level special education.
• John low-level learner.
• Kevin Hates computers/average learner.
• Chelsea Straight A student/loves computers.

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My Hunch

• I was hoping that the computers would increase
  motivation and give students a deeper
  understanding of the concepts of science.
• Sciencespot
• Encarta

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Katie

• Before
• Keyboarding frustration.
• Low comprehension.
• Daydreamer
• After
• Keyboarding improved.
• Daydreaming gone, better comprehension.

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John

• Before
• Apprehensive about computers
• Daydreamer
• Low-level/no special ed.
• After
• Loved computers
• Comprehension improved.
• Daydreaming stopped.

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Kevin

• Before
• Hated computers.
• No keyboarding skills.
• Closed mind for learning.
• Average grades.
• After
• Liked computers.
• Frustration over. keyboarding skills.
• Closed mind for learning
• Improved Grades.

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Chelsea

• Before
• Loves computers
• Loves science
• Focused
• Straight As
• After
• Same as above
• Computer skill improved

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Attendance

• Two students improved attendance. However, there
  were many other variables flu season, vacations,
  subject, etc.

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Eagerness to come to class

• All of the students (even Kevin) looked forward
  to working on the computers. This was a
  motivation to come to my class.

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Results

• There were many variables to skew the results.
  I believe the laptops increased motivation,
  however, did the students miss out on hands on
  lab. Another research questions???

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