ERIC Number: EJ739233
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-May
Pages: 22
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-1315
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Available Date: N/A
Factors Influencing the Adoption of the Internet as a Teaching Tool at Foreign Language Schools
Martins, Claudia B. M. J.; Steil, Andrea V.; Todesco, Jose L.
Computers and Education, v42 n4 p353-374 May 2004
The present article describes a research that determined the factors influencing language schools in Brazil to adopt the Internet as a teaching tool. The theoretical framework used was Rogers, E. (1995). "Diffusion of innovation" (4th ed.). New York: The Free Press. theory of perceived attributes. A survey was carried out with 92 language schools located in Curitiba, South of Brazil. Results revealed that the Internet is adopted in 55% of the schools analysed. Both the model of linear multiple regression and the model of logistic regression predicted 77% of the cases of adoption and, therefore, represented satisfactorily the data from the questionnaire used. The variables observability and trialability were found to be the two most significant predictors of adoption. Adoption took place in 65% of the schools where pedagogical coordinators were brought under pressure by teachers to have the Internet adopted as a teaching tool, implying that this variable may influence the adoption rate. The variables size and amount of time the school has been functioning did not emerge as significant predictors.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Internet, Regression (Statistics), Questionnaires, Predictor Variables, Media Adaptation, Instructional Materials, Learning Strategies, Instructional Innovation, Second Language Programs, Performance Factors, Research Reports
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Brazil
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Author Affiliations: N/A