Technology Instruments

Parent Interviews

Instrument 2: Parent Interview Protocol

Project: Delaware Challenge Grant Project
Capital School District

Funding Source: U.S. Dept. Ed.: Technology Innovation Challenge Grants (Ofc. Educational Research & Improvement)

Purpose: To gain the parents' perspectives on the suitability, use, and value of the technology, plus the parents' judgements of their child's reactions to the technology

Administered To: Parents of the students using target technology at home

Topics Covered:

• Family Influences: activities
• Implementation Activities: equipment/technology use, parent involvement
• Perceptions (Parent): ease of use, student activities, student attitudes
• Plans & Expectations (Parent): continue project involvement, investment
• Project Evaluation: assignments, ease of use, effectiveness, support

Format/Length: 8 open-ended questions

SPRING EVALUATION -- PARENT INTERVIEW PROTOCOL (IN-DEPTH)

1. How long has your child been involved with the Lightspan project?
   

   PROBE:

   Was this the first year? Or were they also involved in first grade?

2. One of the major goals of the Lightspan project is to extend the learning day through a home-school connection. To what extent do you think this goal has been met in at home?
   

   PROBE:

   Have you seen any evidence that your child is spending more time on educational activities at home?

3. How often does your child come home from school with Lightspan Playstation software?
   

   PROBE:	Is your child given specific homework assignments with the Playstation?
   	Does your child play with the Lightspan software because they choose to or because they are told to (by their teacher)/assigned work to do on it?

4. What kind of feedback have you heard from your child about the Lightspan software?
   

   PROBE:	Does your child think it is fun? Do you think s/he understand they are doing an educational activity?
   	Does your child think it is too hard? Do s/he get frustrated with it? Does your child think it is too easy? Do s/he get bored with it?

5. How does your child use the Playstation?
   

   PROBE:	Does s/he usually use it by themselves? With a friend? With a sibling? With an adult?
   	If your child could choose who to use it with, who do you think they would choose?
   	Does your child sit quietly when they use it or interact with the TV (making faces, comments, talking, etc.)?
   	Does your child usually use Playstation software? Have they purchased other software? If yes, what kind of software (educational, games, etc.)? Does your child rent software for the Playstation? If yes, what kind of software (educational, games, etc.)?
   	Does your child ask to use the Playstation? Do you think your child would rather use the Playstation or watch TV/videos?
   	Does the Playstation tie up the only TV in the house or do you have more than one TV?

6. What do you personally think of the Lightspan project?
   

   PROBE:	Do you think the Lightspan project has been a worthwhile use of your child's time? Why or why not?
   	Do you think your child learns more from the CDs than from doing traditional homework? Why do you think so?

7. How well prepared did you feel to help your child with the Playstation software?
   

   PROBE:	Were you able to set up the Playstation when you first got it? Did the school provide help in case you had a problem?
   	Were you provided with training about the Lightspan project? What did you think about this training? Was it enough to help? Did you want more training but did not know how to get it?

8. If the school still offered the Lightspan software to you once the "project" is over, would you continue to use it? If you had to purchase the Lightspan software once the "project" was over, would you purchase it?