Predicting Middle School Students' Use of Web 2.0 Technologies Out of School Using Home and School Technological Variables

This study used multiple regression to identify predictors of middle school students' Web 2.0 activities out of school, a construct composed of 15 technology activities. Three middle schools participated, where sixth-and seventh-grade students completed a questionnaire. Independent predictor variables included three demographic and five computer use variables and three interaction examinations. A regression model, accounting for 25% of the variance, revealed student's ethnicity, access to technologies at home, in-school technological activities, and the school a child attends, predicted students' Web 2.0 activities out of school. Ethnicity-based (but no gender-based) technology participation gaps existed in and out of school, with students of Hispanic ethnicity showing statistically lower use of Web 2.0 activities out of school. The interaction of the school attended and in-school Web 2.0 use was a strong predictor but revealed both significant positive and negative relationships in different schools. Educators and schools must become more aware of their students' technological experiences and access to optimize technological-focused learning experiences for students in and out of school.