THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PARENTS IN RAISING RESPONSIBLE

215 Pages·2017·1.45 MB·English

THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PARENTS IN RAISING
RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL CITIZENS IN A ONE-TO-ONE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

by
Gabriel Conrad Guven
Liberty University

A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Education

Liberty University
2018
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THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PARENTS IN RAISING
RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL CITIZENS IN A ONE-TO-ONE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

by Gabriel Conrad Guven

A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Education

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
2018

APPROVED BY:

Jennifer Courduff, Ph.D., Committee Chair

Megan Cordes, Ed.D., Committee Member

Stephen McMinn, Ed.D., Committee Member

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ABSTRACT

As technology use increases among adolescents both in and out of school, parents face the new
challenge of teaching their children to successfully navigate learning in a digital world. A
review of the existing literature provided a history of both the benefits and risks of one-to-one
learning. Research revealed a lack of parent voice. The purpose of this transcendental ,
phenomenological study was to look at the experiences of 10 parents whose students had access
to one-to-one technology required or provided for educational purposes at a private, faith-based
secondary school in California. Baumrind’s (1967, 1968) parenting style theory and Potter’s
(2004) media literacy theory provided a theoretical framework. This study collected data using
Moustakas’ (1994) methods for transcendental , phenomenological research. The central research
question asked, “How do parents describe their experience of training their children to be
responsible digital citizens in the context of a hyper -connected society?” The study utilized
convenience sampling for selecting participants ( Petty, Thomson, & Stew, 2012). Data included
interviews, journals, and a focus group. Data analysis methods following Moustakas’ (1994)
approach to phenomenological research include d: creating coded categories, identifying key
themes, writing individual structural and textural descriptions, writing composite structural a nd
textural descriptions, and creating the essence statement (Moustakas, 1994). The analysis
produced the following 10 themes: (a) challenges in maintaining a healthy lifestyl;e (b) the
educational benefits of learning with technological device;s (c) questions related to digital versus
print learning; (d) mixed feelings about technology; (e) the weight of parenting; (f) the
importance of ongoing communication; (g) preparing children for adulthood; (h) holding
children accountable; (i) the importance of trust; and (j) providing instruction at an early age.
Keywords: digital citizenship, media literacy, one-to-one learning, parenting style.

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Dedication
I dedicate this dissertation to all parents who desire to help their children
successfully navigate the changing, all-consuming, digital world.

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Acknowledgments
I would first like to acknowledge my wife and children who allowed me the time to
complete the daunting challenge of completing a doctoral degree. You have and always will be
my number-one priority. I would also like to acknowledge the countless family members and
friends who continually encouraged me, asked questions about my doctoral process, and feigned
interest. The Valley Christian community (Dr. Daugherty in particular) played a role in the
initial idea of pursing a doctorate, as well as the completion of it. Thank you, office ladies, for
your patience with me during this time. I am grateful for the expertise of my chair, Dr. Jennifer
Courduff, and my committee, including Dr. Megan Cordes and Dr. Stephen McMinn, in guiding
me through the dissertation process from start to finish . Dr. Courduff was a fantastic chair. She
demonstrated the perfect balance of encouragement and accountability. I could not have done
this without her guidance. I appreciate Dr Swezey, my research consultant, holding me to a high
standard. I also enjoyed getting to know him during my final intensive at Liberty. Our Bay Area
ties brought us together. Dr. Lance Kilpatrick (and Dr. Kyle Ireland via Lance), I appreciate the
encouragement to join you at Liberty University, the time together at intensives, the texts, the
emails, the idea sharing, and the catching up when you were in town . Your friendship and co-
laboring through the program encouraged me to press on every time that I hit a wall. Finally,
thanks be to God for the ability and strength to accomplish the colossal task He set before me so
many years ago. We did it!

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Table of Contents

ABSTRACT .....................................................................................................................................3
Dedication ........................................................................................................................................4
Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................5
Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................6
List of Tables ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .11
List of Abbreviations ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................12
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................ ................................ ............................13
Overview ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................13
Background ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................16
Historical Context ................................ ................................ ................................ ..17
Social Context ................................ ................................ ................................ ........20
Theoretical Context ................................ ................................ ................................ 21
Situation to Self................................ ................................ ................................ ..................22
Problem Statement ................................ ................................ ................................ .............26
Purpose Statement ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............27
Significance of the Study ................................ ................................ ................................ ...28
Research Questions ................................ ................................ ................................ ............30
Definitions................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................32
Summary ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................33
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................ ................................ ................35
Overview ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................35
Theoretical Framework ................................ ................................ ................................ ......36

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Parenting Style Theory ..........................................................................................36
Media Literacy Theory ..........................................................................................43
Related Literature...............................................................................................................46
The Nature of Parenting Children Growing Up in a Digital Era ...........................47
Generational Divides and Technology Usage........................................................47
Texting and Social Media as Identity Amongst Adolescents ................................49
STEM Education ....................................................................................................49
Twenty-first Century Learning ..............................................................................51
Overview of One-to-One Learning Environments ................................................52
Historical Precedence for Computers in Education ...............................................53
The Value of Learning with Computers ................................................................55
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Goals of 21 Century Education—Harnessing the Benefits of Technology .........55
Student Needs within One-to-One Learning Environments ..................................56
Mobile Devices in One-to-One Learning Environments .......................................57
Integration Factors of One-to-One Learning Environments ..................................57
Benefits of One-to-One Learning Environments ...................................................58
Areas of Concern ...................................................................................................60
Blurring of Home and School Technology Use .....................................................63
Judicious Technology Integration ..........................................................................64
Digital Citizenship .................................................................................................64
Role of Parenting in Raising Responsible Digital Citizens ...................................67
Existing Phenomenological Research in Educational Technology .......................69
Summary ............................................................................................................................70

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CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ..................................................................................................72
Overview ............................................................................................................................72
Design ................................................................................................................................72
Research Methods Considered ...............................................................................74
Research Questions ............................................................................................................78
Setting ................................................................................................................................78
Participants .........................................................................................................................80
Procedures ..........................................................................................................................83
The Researcher’s Role .......................................................................................................84
Data Collection ..................................................................................................................86
Interviews ...............................................................................................................87
Focus Group ...........................................................................................................93
Journals ..................................................................................................................96
Data Analysis .....................................................................................................................97
Trustworthiness ................................................................................................................102
Credibility ............................................................................................................103
Dependability and Confirmability .......................................................................104
Transferability ......................................................................................................105
Ethical Considerations .....................................................................................................105
Summary ..........................................................................................................................106
CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS ...................................................................................................108
Overview ..........................................................................................................................108
Participants .......................................................................................................................108

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Sophia ..................................................................................................................111
Sarah ....................................................................................................................111
Joshua ...................................................................................................................111
Ruth ......................................................................................................................112
Esther ...................................................................................................................112
Mary .....................................................................................................................112
Martha ..................................................................................................................113
Hannah .................................................................................................................113
Deborah ................................................................................................................113
Miriam..................................................................................................................114
Results ..............................................................................................................................114
Theme Development ............................................................................................115
Research Question Responses..............................................................................156
Composite Textural Description ......................................................................................161
Composite Structural Description ....................................................................................163
Textural-Structural Synthesis...........................................................................................164
Summary ..........................................................................................................................165
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION..............................................................................................166
Overview ..........................................................................................................................166
Summary of Findings .......................................................................................................167
Discussion ........................................................................................................................168
Related to Baumrind’s Parenting Theory ............................................................168
Related to Media Literacy Theory .......................................................................170

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Related to the Literature.......................................................................................171
Implications......................................................................................................................178
Theoretical Implications ......................................................................................179
Related to the Literature.......................................................................................179
Practical Implications...........................................................................................180
Delimitations and Limitations ..........................................................................................185
Recommendations for Future Research ...........................................................................186
Summary ..........................................................................................................................187
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................189
APPENDIX A ..................................................................................................................204
APPENDIX B ..................................................................................................................205
APPENDIX C ..................................................................................................................206
APPENDIX D ..................................................................................................................207
APPENDIX E ..................................................................................................................209
APPENDIX F...................................................................................................................210
APPENDIX G ..................................................................................................................212
APPENDIX H ..................................................................................................................213
APPENDIX I ...................................................................................................................214
APPENDIX J ...................................................................................................................215

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