[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 86 (Thursday, June 19, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1257]]

              TOPLINE SUMMARY OF RESULTS: CLASSLINK SURVEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NEWT GINGRICH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 1997

  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, when Americans talk about uses of 
technology in the classroom, they usually are referring to computers 
and Internet access. A recent survey found that teachers believe one of 
the most useful new technologies is a simple cellular phone. I enter 
the results of this survey into the Congressional Record.

              Topline Summary of Results: Classlink Survey


                               BACKGROUND

       Surveys were conducted by telephone with teachers, 
     principals, and assistant principals in schools using 
     ClassLink for at least six months. A total of 229 interviews 
     were conducted with teachers; 14 with principals/assistant 
     principals*.
     *Due to this small base size, caution should be used in 
     interpreting results of principals.


                                SUMMARY

       Teachers and principals alike feel that ClassLink is very 
     valuable to them. On a ten-point scale, 82% of teachers and 
     79% of principals rate ClassLink as an 8, 9 or 10.
       Furthermore, 48% of teachers and 65% of principals gave it 
     the highest rating of ``10--extremely valuable.''
       In particular, ClassLink is considered to enhance 
     communication between parents and teachers; to be a valuable 
     tool in case of emergency; to enhance teacher-to-teacher 
     communication and to save time.
       Teachers estimate that ClassLink saves them 113 minutes a 
     day. This would translate to 339 hours per year, an annual 
     savings estimated to be worth $8,814 per teacher.

                     RATING VALUE OF CLASSLINK PHONE
                              [In percent]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Teachers  Principals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base=Total Respondents............................    (229)      (14)*
10--Extremely Valuable............................       48         65
 9................................................       16          7
 8................................................       18          7
Top Three Box.....................................       82         79
 7................................................        5         --
 6................................................        4          7
 5................................................        5         --
 4................................................        1         --
 3................................................        1          7
 2................................................        1         --
                                                   ---------------------
1--Not Valuable At All............................        1          7
    Total.........................................      100        100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Caution: Small Base Size
Question: ``Considering the reasons you use the phone, how would you
  rate the value of ClassLink to you. Please use a scale from 1 to 10,
  where `1' means not valuable at all, and `10' means extremely
  valuable. Of course, you may choose any number between 1 and 10.''
Source: Statistical Table 5


                   AGREEMENT RATING OF CLASSLINK PHONE
                              [In percent]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Teachers  Principals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base=Total Respondents............................    (229)      (14)*
Enhances communication between teachers and              99        100
 parents..........................................
Is a valuable tool in case of emergency...........       98        100
Saves time while at school........................       97        100
Enhances communication between teachers and other        96        100
 teachers.........................................
Makes information more accessible.................       93        100
Decreases the isolation of the classroom..........       91        100
Enhances communication between teachers and              90         93
 administrators...................................
Makes me feel safer at school.....................       87         93
Increases my ability to be an effective teacher...       82         79
Improves the learning environment.................       76         93
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Caution: Small Base Size
Question: ``Now, I would like to read you a list of statements and ask
  you to give your opinions based on your experience with ClassLink.
  Please evaluate ClassLink by telling me whether you agree or disagree
  with each statement. The (first/next) statement is   . Would you
  strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree?''
Source: Statistical Table 18


                  ESTIMATED SAVINGS IN TIME AND DOLLARS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Teachers           Principals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base=Total Respondents..........  (229).............  (14)*
Average time saved per day......  113 minutes.......  286 minutes
Estimated yearly time savings...  339 hours.........    **
Average annual salary...........  $37,436.00 \1\....    **
Estimated hourly cost...........  $26.00 \2\........    **
Estimated value of time saved     $8,814.00.........    **
 annually.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Condition of
  Education Report, 1995, Indicator 55.
\2\ Assumes a 40-hour week, 9 months per year.
*Caution: Small Size.
**Data for principals is not annualized and projected, due to the small
  base size.
Source: Hand Tabulated.


                             CLASSLINK USAGE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Teachers  Principals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base=Total Respondents............................    (229)      (14)*
Daily average of calls made using ClassLink.......     5.07      11.42
Daily average of calls received using ClassLink...     3.86       9.16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Caution: Small Base Size




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