Appendix A.
Marti Lindsey
SIRLS 587 Fall 2001

Information Needs of K-12 Teachers

The aim of this questionnaire is to gain insight into the information needs and search methods used by K-12 Teachers. We are interested in the views of regular Internet users and of those who have little or no experience of the Internet.

The purpose of the IMPACTT project of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center is to provide a useful interdisciplinary curriculum that integrates the major disciplines of English, Social Studies, Math, Technology and Science around the unifying theme of Environmental Health. We plan to disseminate this curriculum on the Internet, free of charge, in a format that is easy to access and that can provide activities, lessons, and units that provide hands-on experience and integrated learning.

If you would like more information, please contact Stefani Hines hines@pharmacy.arizona.edu , the Outreach Director at the South West Environmental Health Sciences Center (520-626-3692) or Marti Lindsey lindsey@pharmacy.arizona.edu, Information Specialist (520-626-3692). Mailing address: Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, Room 244 PO Box 210207, Tucson, AZ, USA 85721-0207.

We would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to fill out and return this questionnaire - we want to develop a service that is relevant to your needs.
Thank you for taking a minute and fill out this form.

Section I - User Background

1. What is your main workplace?
\| pick one \|	Elementary School Middle or Jr. High School High School Other - please describe:

2. Which of the following best describes your main discipline of teaching?
\| choose all applicable \|	Language Arts Social Studies Science Math Technology Other

Section II - Information Uses and Retrieval Processes

3. General sources - please rank, from 1 - 4, your use of the following digital resources as information sources for your work:

4 = very frequently

3 = frequently

2 = infrequently

1 = never

|
choose the number that applies
|

CD ROM Online search of Internet Email Online databases Other

4. What kinds of information do you need for your work?
\| choose all applicable \|	Curriculum development Unit planning Lesson planning Background information Student activities Student assessment Assuring state & national standards are met Other - please specify

5. a. Have you ever encountered any difficulties in obtaining digital information?
\| pick one \|	No, proceed to question 6. Yes, please answer question 5. b.

5. b. If yes, what was the nature of the difficulty?
\| choose all applicable \|	Locating material Cost Speed of access Lack of time Availability of material Gaining access to material Difficulties using the Internet Difficulties getting started Other - please describe

6. a. Do you use the lessons you find exactly the way they are written?
\| pick one \|	No, proced to quesion 6. c. Yes, please answer question 6. b.

6. b. If yes, please indicate how frequently on a scale of 1 - 4
\| pick one \|	4 = very frequently 3 = frequently 2 = infrequently 1 = never

6. c. If no, please indicate how you use the lessons ?

Section III - Experience and Use of Computers

7. a. Do you have access to Internet services??
\| pick one \|	No, proced to quesion 8. Yes, please answer question 9.

8. If you answered no to question 7, Would you like to be able to access any of the following ?

|
choose all applicable
|

Browsing the Internet Email Subscription to lists for information Active participation in online discussion groups

Accessing databases Lesson plan websites Digital libraries

Other - please describe

If you do not have access to the Internet, you need not answer any further questions. Thank you for your time and assistance. If your responded yes to question 7, please continue with the remaining questions.

9. How experienced are you doing computer based information searches?
\| pick one \|	4 = very experienced 3 = some experience 2 = little experience 1 = none

10. What services do you use?

|
choose all applicable
|

Browsing the Internet Email Subscription to lists for information Active participation in online discussion groups

Accessing databases Lesson plan websites Digital libraries

Other - please describe

Section V - Internet Search Tools and Useful Sites

Please complete the 3 tables and add any comments or observations below ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... Thank you for your time and assistance.

11. Internet Search Tools - If you have used any of the search tools listed in this table, please evaluate them by completing as many or as few categories as you can. Please add any other search tools you use in the spaces at the bottom of the table.

Name of search tool	Frequency of use	Ease of use (Range 1...5)	Speed of use (Range 1...5)	Number of hits? (Range 1...5)	Relevancy of hits? (Range 1...5)	Overall rating (Range 1...5)
	D - daily W- weekly O - occasionally R - rarely N - never	1 = difficult 3 = fair 5 = easy	1 = slow 3 = moderate 5 = fast	1 = too few 3 = about right 5 =too many	1 = mostly not 3 = some are 5 = mostly are	1 = poor 3 = fair 5 = excellent
Lycos
Web Crawler
Yahoo
Infoseek
Alta Vista
Dogpile
Google

12. Internet Lesson Planning Resources- If you have used any of the lesson planning resourcess listed in this table, please evaluate them by completing as many or as few categories as you can.

Name of search tool Frequency
of use
Ease of use
(Range 1...5)
Speed of use
(Range 1...5)
Number of hits?
(Range 1...5)
Relevancy of hits?
(Range 1...5)
Overall rating
(Range 1...5)

D - daily
W- weekly
O - occasionally
R - rarely
N - never
1 = difficult
3 = fair
5 = easy

1 = slow
3 = moderate
5 = fast

1 = too few
3 = about right
5 =too many

1 = mostly not
3 = some are
5 = mostly are

1 = poor
3 = fair
5 = excellent

Lesson Plans Page

Ask ERIC Lesson Plans

Discovery

TeachNet

K-12 Lessons

A to Z Teacher Stuff

Scholastic

Lesson Plan Search

Science Lesson Plans

McRel

Thursday's Classroom

13. Useful Internet Sites/Directories - Please list any particularly useful sites or directories. You might access them daily or rarely, but if you feel that they contain information which may be of use to others in your field, please include them here:

Name of site Address / URL Discipline Reason for use Overall rating
(Range 1...5)

l = Language Arts
m = Math
ss =Social Studies
s = Science
t = Technology
o = other....... please describe

cd = curriculum development
up = unit planning
lp = lesson planning
bi = background information
ac = student activities
as = student assessment
sm = standards met
o = other....... please describe
1 = poor
3 = fair
5 = excellent