College Readiness of Urban High School Students in the United States: The role of Technology in Preparing All Students for College

Graduation Date

Fall 2010

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Document Form

Print

Degree Name

Master of Science

Program Name

Education

Program Director

Madeliene Peters, EdD

Abstract

As we enter deeper into the 21st Century, there is a more urgent need to transform our educational system in the United States to better prepare our youth for the careers and technology of the future. This study examines how improving technology education at the high school level can improve the learning and college readiness of urban youth. It explores various reasons why it is imperative for our educational system to transform to fit the needs of a changing world and workforce, how denying technology education to some youth can diminish their opportunities and options for higher education and careers, and how small changes in one urban high school classroom impacted the learning of the students.

The subjects of the study were students in a private, all girls’ urban high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. These students participated the initial project during spring of their sophomore year. Additional data was gathered in fall of their junior year. A total of 28 completed the survey.

Many of the students had very little experience with current technological tools. By the end of the project, the majority of students responded that they feel familiar and confident with new technology. This new awareness may help these students have further confidence to try something new.

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