June 2002 — Features
Print this article | Email this articleClick here to receive your FREE subscription to T.H.E. Journal
Build It and They Will Not Necessarily Come
Web Site Training
At the first general meeting for project participants, the Web site administrator distributed and reviewed a set of technology handouts. These materials consisted of a copy of the Web site home page and a tour of the site that provided basic instructions for using its functions. Also included in the materials were instructions for setting up the Prosignia 150, establishing an account with an ISP, connecting to the Internet, and accessing and leaving the program Web site.
The handouts did not assume extensive technological knowledge, only a basic level of personal comfort and confidence in using PC technology. This assumption was premised on the knowledge that all participants had completed advanced graduate education and that their own schools were participants in the mandatory statewide implementation of the Ohio Educational Management Information System. Following the review of the materials, the presenter encouraged use of the Web site, then invited and responded to participant questions. The notebook computers were then distributed, and all participants were encouraged to bring concerns about the use of the computer or the Web site to their cluster meetings.
At the project's second general meeting, the Web site administrator presented a technology update. He announced that the Internet server at the sponsoring university had upgraded its software to WebCT v2.2, and that each user of the site would need to create a new individual account to login. A handout describing the new login procedure with nontechnical language was distributed and reviewed.
The site administrator and two computer technicians fielded questions concerning computer use and the Web site. The announcement of this meeting had invited participants to bring their notebooks and any technology-related questions. Individuals were again encouraged to make use of the Web site and to seek needed help. Between April and early summer 2000, some participants stated they experienced difficulty in using the Web site. The summer break in the program interfered with discussion of the problems and training of the participants.
The second year of the project focused less on Web site training than on portfolio development by the entry-year principals. Therefore, only minimal time was spent on site training. However, based on experience from the first year, the program incorporated a training session on the use of computers and the Web site into the general meeting in December 2000. At that time, only a few of the participants chose to remain for the training. Those who remained received one-on-one help to resolve their difficulties. Because all participants in the second year of the project were continuing from the first year, no start-up training was provided on the computer or the Web site. Incidental attention was given to the Web site at regional meetings.
Formal Site Evaluation
A two-phase evaluation of the effectiveness of the program Web site was included in the evaluation of the Northeast Ohio Principals' Academy EYP. The evaluators collected relevant information through questionnaires, interviews and observations. Only those parts of the evaluation having to do with the program Web site are reported here. At the end of the second general meeting of the project, the evaluators asked participants to evaluate the achievement of eight training objectives, three of which related to technology. On a scale of one (low) to five (high) their ratings were to:
