Article Critique Form Directions: Read an empirical research article from the list in Blackboard about technology and

education. Critique the article by answering the questions below. Make sure you read all of the assignment directions before beginning. Answer each question in your blog post for the week indicated. Be sure to type and number the question and then type your answer below it. Type your response below each section. 1. Provide the complete article title and author The title of this article is : Laptops and Fourth-Grade Literacy: Assisting the Jump over the Fourth-Grade Slump. It was written by Kurt A. Suhr, David A. Hernandez, Douglas Grimes, & Mark Warschauer.

2. State the intended audience. (What is empirical research and how does it help the classroom?) This article was intended for teachers and andministrators in the educational setting. This audience would include but not limited to Local BOE as well as corporations that have an interest in promoting education.

3. What is/are the research question/questions or hypothesis/hypotheses? The basis of this study was to determine the effectiveness of one to one computing initiatives as it relates to student achievement, student engagement, teaching strategies, and student ability to work independently and collaboratively with peers.

4. Describe the subject (participants) and the procedures (methods) used by the researcher(s)? Over a three year period, 633 seventh graders from different schools, both private and public, were given laptops. The procedure used teacher surveys, student surveys, teacher interviews, student drawings, previous analyzed test scores, and classroom observations to document the one to one computing on teachiong and learning practices across five observeable settings. Student achievement was measured using the Massachusettes Comprehensive Assessment System.

5. What were the conclusions of the researchers? Do you agree or disagree with the conclusions? Support your position.

The research proved positive. Students gains were made in writing, teaching practices, student engagement, research skills, collaboration and student achievement. (p.17) In agreement with the article, one to one Computing is a great idea and it can very well enhance teaching and learning. I liked the tracking of the data over the strectch of time rather than forming a conclusion of data from a couple of observations based on numerical outcomes. I also like the fact that the data was totally observable information rather than conclusions based only on the final numerical outcomes. From my own perspective, this is more valuable information because it was realistic and not a blanketed conclusion. The results were indivdualized as the classrooms are today. This information is very valuable to teachers because teachers are constantly looking for ways to keep their students actively engaged and also to improve the quality of their own teaching as well as their students work. (p. 29)

6. What suggestions for further research do the authors suggest? What other suggestions for future research would you suggest? We are in the forever changing age of technology. Students are going to use these devices wether we have them in the classroom or not. The reason for this isthat it is what gets their attention. So why cant we use these technologies in order to give them what they need. Students need to lesarn the proper use of a laptop and know that it is a tool for education and not just gaming purposes. If teachers can find a way to incorporate laptop use into their classrooms imagine how advanced the students will be. Teachers are now required to incorporate technology use into their daily classroom activities. I personally think that this would be a great investment in educating students. They camn learn the proper use and know what is acceptable and unacceptable laptop use. This will not only educate them academically but also a way to educate them to be cyber safe at the same time.