Loucks, Prensky, and Puentedura

This weekend I am focusing on tightening up Chapter 3: Methods. One of the challenges with doing exploratory qualitative research that uses emergent themes to develop contextual theories is that you don't want to skew the coding or interpretation of data using already existing frameworks. However you also want to ground the perspective in theories that are grounded, researched, or at least familiar with future audiences. 

This is how I describe my using three versions of a similar approach to understanding technology integration or adoption:

The coding indicators, both emergent and specific in this research, derived from several general research bases. Orr and Mrazek (2008) shared a simplified table (see Table 3.2) describing The Levels of Use of the Innovation (Hall, Loucks, Rutherford, & Newlove, 1975; Loucks, 1977). These levels form a continuum on which an aspect of teaching can be matched with an indicator for where one is on the integration spectrum.

Prensky (2005) shared a similar continuum for describing teachers’ technology adoption practices. He described the four steps as dabbling, doing old things in old ways, doing old things in new ways, and doing new things in new ways. Similar to Prensky’s work and the Levels of Use paradigm, Puentedura’s recent SAMR framework (2013) suggests a continuum ranging from technology as a substitute to technology as a redefining catalyst (see Figure 3.1). These three perspectives are not used in this research to judge or evaluate the participating teacher. Instead, they provide a common lexicon for describing what may be happening as a teacher is integrating technology in the classroom.

It is amazing that Susan Louck's framework, developed almost 40 years ago, still has complete relevance today. If you have access to academic journals, look for some of Loucks' and her colleague's work on this area. It is really amazing and they go much deeper into each described level. It is easy to see how this work has influenced both Prensky and Puentudera.

Levels of Use of the Innovation (Hall, Loucks et al, 1975; Loucks, 1977)

Screenshot lifted from one of Puentedura's slides - http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/archives/2013/06/06/PathsToTransformation.pdf