Abstract:

The main objective of this abstract is to present a research project developed to diagnose how teachers in K12 are integrating laptop computers in their teaching practices in the State of Sonora, Mexico, in order to document cases and give recommendations towards follow-up actions in the formation of technological skills for the teachers in the region.

The “Mi Compu MX” program aims to: Contribute, through the use and development of the personal computer, to improve the conditions of children study, updating forms of education, strengthening groups of teachers, upgrading of public school and reducing digital and social gaps between families and communities that make up the country (Subsecretaría de Educación Pública, 2014).

The State of Sonora is one of the entities participating in the pilot program called “Mi Compu MX”, and Centro Regional de Formación Docente e Investigación Educativa del Estado de Sonora (CRFDIES) was built there to develop basic and applied research in education, particularly concerning the training processes of teachers that contemplate intensive use of ICT to enhance the performance of educational and research functions (CRFDIES, 2014a).

Related research was conducted at CRFDIES with a baseline study on cognitive and technological skills that develop children in fifth and sixth primary school on the use of the laptop (CRFDIES, 2014B). Based on the results of this study, it was determined to study how teachers integrate laptop computers to their educational practices under the “Mi Compu MX” program.

A mixed methodology is considered with an explanatory sequential design (Creswell and Plano-Clark, 2007) under QUAN + QUAL taxonomy (Tashakkori and Teddlie, 2003). This will occur in two stages according to the suggested design, where the first step corresponds to the quantitative design. At this early stage, the process of data analysis consist of validation and calculation of reliability of the scales followed a descriptive, correlational analysis of the variables. The second stage corresponds to the qualitative method where multiple case studies as proposed by Yin (2003) will be made. The data collection techniques include in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, anecdotal record and document analysis.

The project has a significant impact to account for the current situation in the State of Sonora and all of the others States who participated in the first phase of the “Mi Compu MX” program. The importance of the study is based on providing information for decision-makers at State and Federal levels on the implementation of the next phases of the “Mi Compu MX” program. Also, the results of the research will be useful to principals and teachers to manage their training in the context of school autonomy. Moreover, it is expected to train masters and doctoral students with this project.

Keywords:

ICT, technological skills, teachers training.