| The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions of sixth-grade students and teachers of the effects of a computer pod design on student engagement in an urban, Title I, at-risk, inner-city middle school.;In this qualitative study, triangulation was achieved through the analysis of teacher surveys, students surveys, classroom observations, and answers to structured questions from teacher and student interviews. In addition, two instruments developed by the researcher were used to survey the teachers and students. Smith's Teacher Survey and Smith's Student Survey were designed to gather data on the perceptions of effects of the computer pod design on student engagement. Both instruments were created for the purpose of collecting and recording the written perceptions of students and teachers.;Data collection included 125 sixth-grade students, 5 sixth-grade teachers, and 2 Title I sixth-grade teachers. The researcher interviewed the technology resource teacher twice during the school year. Participants' use of the computer pods was observed by the researcher continuously throughout the year. Surveys constructed by the researcher were completed by all participants in the study at the end of the school year. Focus interviews of sixth-grade students and teachers were conducted during the second year of the computer pod implementation. Data were examined based on codes developed from the theoretical framework, research questions, observations, and interviews.;Three research questions were developed to guide the study of the perceptions of sixth-grade students and teachers. The findings of the study led to the conclusion that sixth-grade students and teachers held positive perceptions of the effects of the computer pod design on student engagement. |
