An action research project was conducted to find ways of increasing the productive use of time in middle school applied technology laboratories. The population targeted for the study consisted of 26 middle school students in a growing middle-class Illinois community. The problem of nonproductive use of class time was documented through test scores, uncompleted worksheets, and teachers' observations of behavior. The following items were identified as contributing to the problem of nonproductive use of class time: weak student study skills, inadequate or unclear statement of classroom expectations, and inadequate student social skills. Students' productive use of time in an applied technology laboratory was determined to be related to curriculum, classroom organization, and student social and academic skills. An intervention involving the use of daily student lesson logs and daily behavior checklists was tested for three weeks. Postintervention data indicated an increase in student achievement and decrease in inappropriate classroom behaviors. The teacher behavior checklists also indicated an increase in students' use of classroom time. (The paper contains 19 references. Appended are the following: list of available technology modules; sample module schedule; sample of module behavior and score checklist; sample technology teacher survey; and sample lesson log.) (MN)