A Qualitative Evaluation of a Statewide Networking Infrastructure in Education Project

Abstract

This article outlines the findings of a qualitative and primarily formative evaluation of one state’s Networking Infrastructures for Education pilot program to help develop a statewide educational technology network. This evaluation primarily focused on efforts in five diverse school districts to incorporate Internet applications in the classroom at pilot elementary, middle, and high schools in each district. Although considerable progress was made helping school systems, schools, and teachers develop the capability to use the Internet in the classroom, much was learned that should facilitate similar efforts in other school districts. Thus, this article describes this K-12 project designed to inform state networking and outlines lessons learned from features and approaches in the sites that participants and evaluators viewed as particularly effective or as needing improvement.