JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW TEMPLATE

North American University

Education Department
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership / M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
EDUC 5324 Integrating Technology into Education

Name:__Ali E._____________ Date: _07/16/2018________________

Cite the reviewed article in APA format:

Waxman, H. C., Boriack, A. W., Yuan-Hsuan, L., & MacNeil, A. (2013). Principals' Perceptions of
the Importance of Technology in Schools. Contemporary Educational Technology, 4(3), 187-196.

INTRODUCTION
Research Questions (if research questions are not specifically mentioned, what is
the theoretical background or overarching theme):
1-What are principals’ perceptions of the importance of technology? and
2-Do principals’ perceptions of technology differ by years of experience and
gender?

Purpose of the research:

To understand the perception of our school leaders on the importance of
technology and see if the perceptions differs by gender and age.

METHODOLOGY

What is the methodology for the research or approach used to understand the
issue? Provide information regarding the following:

Participants: 310 principals from a large metropolitan area in the southwest

region of the United States

Procedures: An open-ended questionnaire was administered by graduate

students in the Educational Leadership program at a major, urban doctoral-
granting university located in the South-Central region of the U.S.

Data Collection Methods/Data Source: As part of the principal’s

certification course requirements, students were trained on how to
administer the open-ended Interview instrument and required to interview a
specific number of current public-school principals. The survey instrument
was designed specifically for this purpose and included both qualitative
and quantitative questions. The collected data was read/reviewed multiple
times before coded. Then, inter-reliability of it was checked and found very
high.

Data Analysis: After coding of the interview data, the responses were
grouped into six groups:
1- Communication
2- Instruction
3- Data Sharing and Management
4- Resource
5- Administrative
6- Student Learning
Then, the data was analyzed by the percentage of principals’:
1- Statement of use of technology in the categories mentioned above
2- Age of respondents who stated the specific categories
3- Sex of respondents who stated the specific categories

The data shows that:

The Principals see the technology as an indirect tool rather than a
direct tool to learning; (communication) 34.5% vs. (student learning)
9.7% respectively.
On the other hand, female school leaders see the technology more
directly related with student learning than their male counterparts;
11.5% vs. 7.2%.
Interestingly, when ages of the principals are taken into accounts,
the principals with least experience and the most experience see the
technology more as a resource than as a tool for student learning
compared to their counterparts that are in different age groups.

RESULTS

Findings or Results (or main points of the article): Sadly, I see no relation between
what the analysis data of the research shows and what is concluded in the
research. More sadly than that, it is really hard to draw much conclusion based on
the data provided. To me, I see it as the researches just put some general
concerns and suggestions as a conclusion with no relation to the data.
 DISCUSSIONS

Conclusions/Implications (for your profession): Yes, of course the principals

need training, and yes, they see the technology as a communication tool. But they
barely see it as a mean to improve student learning and this is the most important
part that is missed. When they are trained, the training should be focused on
introducing how the technology can increase student learning.

REFLECTIONS

Student’s Reflections (changes to your understanding; implications for your

school/work): I see the technology as a power multiplier, an enhancer, a tool that
may speed up and enhance the learning process in a very positive way given that
it is used intentionally in that way after a focused training in that area. And this
research showed that there is a long way to go until researchers and the school
administrators can come to that point.