24/7 Access to iPads: Middle School Student Perceptions

This qualitative research study explored middle school students’ perceptions of 24/7 access to an iPad. The research design included an anonymous online survey administered to 430 students, a focus group of 10 students, and four individual interviews. The research participants were in grades six through eight. The motivation to pursue this dissertation topic was the result of a one-to-one initiative at the study site that had been awarded a grant to become an environmental science, technology, engineering, and math (E-STEM) school. This grant funded all students in grades five through eight with 24/7 access to an iPad. A second motivation to pursue this study was the significant lack of middle school students’ perspectives in research related to one-to-one initiatives reviewed for this dissertation. Major research findings as well as future recommendations are included.