This paper presents an exploratory case study focusing on the acquisition of information, through technologically efficient systems, by the hearing impaired. The multiple-case study was conducted during one school year with seven students participating. While a central question and propositions derived from that question guide the data collection and analysis, this is a hypothesis-building study. The purpose of the study was to generate questions to focus further research of a descriptive or explanatory format. One question, and the propositions generated by it, dominated this research: How do efficient acquisition systems in the classroom effect academic and social behavior, independent activities, or student, peer, and adult expectations? Three propositions directed the data collection/analysis of this research. As knowledge increases in students: (1) the rate of academic production will increase; (2) times of independent activities will be focused on productive projects; (3) self-concept will improve as measured by students, peers and adults. Six sources (documents, physical artifacts, archival records, interviews, direct observations, participant observation) were used to gather data for the analysis of the research project. The results of this study showed that the students who had only the disability of hearing impairment had significantly different experiences throughout this study than those who evidenced intellectual impairments. Generally, their work output was greater, increased more, and reflected a qualitative change. The data gathered from the unstructured activity periods also clearly show a dissimilar experience. The hearing impaired students "grew" into increasingly more productive behaviors while the other group showed, for all practical purposes, no change at all. The analysis of the third proposition was more problematical. The findings are not as clear as the first two propositions because the reporting and recording of data was subject to more interpretation. The indicators may support the proposition that increased learning has a positive effect on self-image. The results from this study have implications for current educational practices for hearing impaired: (1) Computer and video technology need a directedness not now evident. (2) Placement decisions should be based on expectations and achievements of the various populations served. (3) More sophisticated technology should be placed at the disposal of the classroom teacher.

This project describes the outline for an effective procedure for a backwards design approach as it relates to a technology integrated unit of study.

by Tony Lam Wai-leung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references. / ABSTRACT / Chapter I --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Defining the Problem Area --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Aims of the Study --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Significance of the Study --- p.5 / Chapter II --- The Background Study of Educational Technology / Chapter 2.1 --- Terms and Definitions --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Similar Works with Different Names --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- The Changing Roles of Educational Technology / Chapter 2.4 --- The Worldwide Diffusion --- p.23 / Chapter 2.5 --- Educational Technology in Hong Kong --- p.24 / Chapter III --- The Crises and the Victim in Tertiary Education / Chapter 3.1 --- The Scope of Crisis and Victim --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Crises in Tertiary Education --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3 --- The CPHK Circumstances --- p.36 / Chapter IV --- Literature Review / Chapter 4.1 --- Changes in Education and Schooling --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2 --- Organization Models of Educational Technology Services --- p.43 / Chapter 4.3 --- AECTs Standards --- p.47 / Chapter 4.4 --- Organizational Life Cycles --- p.51 / Chapter 4.5 --- Barriers to Technology Adoption --- p.54 / Chapter 4.6 --- Problems and Possibilities --- p.57 / Chapter 4.7 --- Expanded Bridge Building Concept --- p.61 / Chapter V --- "Hypothesis, Approach and Methodology" / Chapter 5.1 --- Setting the Hypothesis --- p.64 / Chapter 5.2 --- Choosing the General Approach --- p.67 / Chapter 5.3 --- Selecting Research Methods --- p.68 / Chapter 5.4 --- The Research Procedures --- p.71 / Chapter VI --- Observations and Findings / Chapter 6.1 --- Organizational Structure --- p.72 / Chapter 6.2 --- Organizational Model and Programme Standard --- p.77 / Chapter 6.3 --- The Change of Top School Management and More --- p.82 / Chapter 6.4 --- A Closer Look at the Surveys --- p.89 / Chapter 6.5 --- ETC is Victimized --- p.97 / Chapter VII --- Discussion and Conclusion / Chapter 7.1 --- The Possible Future of ETC of CPHK --- p.109 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications on Other Institutions --- p.113 / Chapter 7.3 --- Gentry and Csete's Predictions Reconsidered --- p.114 / Chapter VIII --- Recommendations --- p.117 / APPENDICES / TABLES / SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

In this multiple-case study, I developed cases describing three students‘ (Mary, Ryan and David) solution methods for algebra word problems and investigated the effect of technology on their solution methods by making inferences about their preferences for visual or nonvisual solutions. Furthermore, I examined the students‘ solution methods when presented with virtual physical representations of the situations described in the problems and attempted to explain the effect of those representations on students‘ thinking preferences. In this study, the use of technology referred to the use of the dynamic software program Geogebra. Suwarsono‘s (1982) Mathematical Processing Instrument (MPI) was administered to determine their preferences for visual and nonvisual thinking. During the interviews, students were presented with paper-andpencil-based tasks (PBTs), Geogebra-based tasks (GBTs) and Geogebra-based tasks with virtual physical representations (GBT-VPRs). Each category included 10 algebra word problems, with similar problems across categories. (i.e., PBT 9, GBT 9 and GBT-VPR 9 were similar). By investigating students‘ methods of solution and their use of representations in solving those tasks, I compared and contrasted their preferences for visual and nonvisual methods when solving problems with and without technology. The comparison between their solutions of PBTs and GBTs revealed how dynamic software influenced their method of solution. Regardless of students‘ preferences for visual and nonvisual solutions, with the use of dynamic software students employed more visual methods when presented with GBTs. When visual methods were as accessible and easy to use as nonvisual methods, students preferred to use them, thus demonstrating that they possessed a more complete knowledge of problem-solving with dynamic software than their work on the PBTs. iii Nowadays, we can construct virtual physical representations of the problems in technology environments that will help students explore the relationships and look for patterns that can be used to solve the problem. Unlike GBTs, GBT-VPRs did not influence students‘ preferences for visual or nonvisual methods. Students continued to rely on methods that they preferred since their preferences for visual or nonvisual solutions regarding GBT-PRs were similar to their solution preferences for the problems on MPI that was administered to them to determine their preferences for visual or nonvisual methods. Mary, whose MPI score suggested that she preferred to solve mathematics problems using nonvisual methods, solved GBT-VPRs with nonvisual methods. Ryan, whose MPI score suggested that he preferred to solve mathematics problems using visual methods, solved GBT-VPRs with visual methods. David, whose MPI score suggested that he preferred to solve mathematics problems using both visual and nonvisual methods, solved GBT-VPRs with both visual and nonvisual methods.

This is a qualitative study of one student’s use of assistive technology in the public school system from preschool to fourth grade. The data collected for this case study include interviews, participant observation, field and diary notes, video tapes, and other documents including school records and a teacher memoir. Throughout the study, the goals were to stay open to and reflect emerging patterns rather than to fit data into previously determined categories. The report describes how Michael--with cerebral palsy that affects his speech and prevents his standing or holding a pencil--used computers, augmentative communication devices, and other electronic technology. On one level the report becomes the story of a student who moves from a separate special education facility into an elementary school where he is integrated fulltime into a fourth grade class. Discussion and conclusions explore (1) types of support he required, (2) barriers to technology use as well as problems of "abandonment" of technology acquired, (3) the effect of integration into general education on his use of technology, and (4) how providing assistive technology influences and changes teachers’ roles. / Ed. D.