Date of Award
Summer 8-13-2013
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Middle-Secondary Education and Instructional Technology
First Advisor
Laurie Brantley-Dias
Second Advisor
Joyce King
Third Advisor
Wanjira Kinuthia
Fourth Advisor
Brian Williams
Abstract
The purpose of this case study was to investigate the empowering instructional practices of three technology-using teachers in an elementary school populated by low-income African American students. The participants, from Ladson ES, had been teaching a variety of grade levels and had between six and ten years of experience. Over the course of six months the researcher collected data including field observations, interviews, and artifact reviews, such as lesson plans and student assignments. Portions of frameworks of multicultural education, empowering education, and culturally relevant pedagogy were linked to examine and document the teachers’ instructional strategies and technology use as it related to empowerment education. Analysis occurred through an iterative process where data was coded and recoded until saturation was reached and themes emerged. Findings from this study indicated that teachers used technology and empowerment as a way to provide exposure, increase self-esteem, and prepare students for their futures. Through a variety of software tools and instructional practices, including cooperative groups, classroom roles, and student discussions students engaged in the learning process and teachers created an environment that was pleasant for student learning and engagement. Students were empowered in a variety of ways: through the use of videos to expose them to different cultures, building of confidence, and use of cooperative groups to help them learn how to work together. The results of this study indicate that teachers would benefit from training on how to integrate technology with multicultural education and how to further instruct for empowerment especially in elementary school classrooms. Additionally, the results also point out the need for more empowerment in classrooms for both teachers and students.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/4311532
Recommended Citation
Cuby Richardson, Crystal, "Empowering Instructional Practices of Technology Using Teachers of Low-Income African American Students." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2013.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/4311532