This practicum was designed to address the problem of computer anxiety and minimal computer usage among preservice teachers. An integrated curriculum was designed based on guidelines from the International Society for Technology in Education, in an attempt to require computer use by students for course assignments and instruction. Workshops…

An interactive tool was created to gauge the skills and attitudes of individuals and populations regarding computer technology and its attendant changes. The goal of the project was to develop a non-threatening, user-friendly instrument to assess the computer skills and attitudes of preservice and inservice teachers and administrators at all…

Reports on a study examining how well several personal variables predict elementary school teachers' use of computers for teaching. Variables examined included innovativeness, teacher locus of control, perceived relevance of computers, and self-competence in using computers. Data on age, gender, and years of computer experience were also…

In the areas of audiology and speech science, computer technology has moved to the forefront in both the clinical and laboratory settings. It is imperative that students in both speech-language pathology and audiology acquire fundamental skills with all aspects of computer technology in order to maintain professional marketability. A survey of 75…

Integration is based on the assumption that computers should be an integral part of the learning process, both for servicing curriculum needs and as an object for study. The integration of computers into everyday classroom activity has proved to be more slow and difficult than expected, creating the notion that there are incentives enhancing the…

This paper describes a study designed to investigate the effectiveness of narrative versus step-by-step instructions for a computer task. The participants in this study were 31 undergraduate education students enrolled in a computer literacy class at the University of Memphis during the Summer 1996 semester; none of the participants had prior…

This paper briefly describes an assignment designed to improve teachers' attitudes toward technology through basic instruction. A group of teachers who were taking graduate level courses were introduced to computer technology in a non-threatening manner starting with learning the basic computer skills, such as e-mail, word processing, and…

In this chapter the authors attempt to sketch the general outlines of the characteristics typical of students' attitudes toward the new information technologies. They touch on the following three aspects: (1) The place of the computer in the structure of leisure time of today's adolescent; (2) The role played by the new information technologies in…

A case study was conducted to seek improved understanding of processes related to teachers' adoption of two classroom-based computer technologies--networked computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and desktop computer multimedia resources--at a selected magnet elementary school. A Stages of Concern Questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data,…

This study examined cross-cultural technology training and education. A four-part questionnaire addressed computer training preferences, computer attitudes and perceptions, and computer access among Chinese, Ghanaian, and American students in college business and education classes. The differences in computer ownership among students reflected…

Several strategies are presented that have been used in computer-literacy courses and been found to be successful for reducing computer anxiety and increasing computer confidence in preservice teachers: (1) give them an overview; (2) speak in their language; (3) find the friendliest computer system; (4) have them play; (5) make the computer fit…

Computer-based multimedia applications, because of their flexible and varied presentation capabilities, are considered an effective alternative to traditional training methods. Today in many educational and training settings interactive computer programs are used to teach young students and adults computer literacy skills. However, as indicated in…

Access to technology in school can motivate students to become more independent learners, but will have little effect if teachers are technologically illiterate. To be effective, technology must be integrated into the curriculum, and teachers need support and training in the use of technology and related new pedagogical methods. They also need…

This document provides reports of projects related to Internet use by adult learners and practitioners. Chapter 1 reports findings of an online survey of 113 adult literacy practitioners actively using the Internet, including difficulties encountered in learning to use the Internet; training or supports that helped; Internet features used by…

This issue focuses on a project to develop a set of curricular materials using Internet-based resources and the formation of a staff development/project implementation team of instructors. Section 1 provides a project rationale, summary information about findings and lessons learned, and results of needs assessment surveys conducted in Oregon.…