This research examines factors that influenced teachers' decisions to participate in professional development activities and, subsequently, to implement ideas gained through their participation. Twenty-four teachers who were employed by an urban school district shared their perceptions regarding the content, context, and process of a districtwide…

This two-year study explored the perceptions and roles of experienced elementary teachers (computer novices) as they learned and began using computer technology in their teaching. Results indicated participants' preferences for learning basic computer skills before integrating technology into the curricula, importance of seeing purpose in using…

This study examined the influence of learning goals and self-evaluation on college students' achievement outcomes during computer skill learning. The researchers hypothesized that providing students with learning goals would focus their efforts on the skills to be acquired, allow for assessment of learning progress, and enhance implementation of…

This study examined the effects of goals--such as denoting learning and performance outcomes--and self-evaluation on the acquisition of computer skills, efficacy in performing computer tasks, perception of competence for the use of self-regulatory strategies, and frequency of strategy use while learning computer skills. Subjects were 44 college…

Describes a university/elementary school partnership where elementary school teachers were provided with professional support through monthly meetings, instructional support through two inservice workshops, and technical support in part by students (third to fifth grade) trained to serve as technology "experts." Findings indicate increases in…

In this exploratory study, researchers compared characteristics and teaching practices of teachers, perceived by themselves to be exemplary technology-users, with characteristics and teaching practices of exemplary users described in the literature. Using a qualitative case-study design, the researchers examined the pedagogical beliefs and…

The intent of this "bottom-up" project was to create a community of learners to facilitate the implementation of computer technologies in the elementary school curriculum. The participants were 6 graduate students and their professor, 10 teachers (grades 1-5), their students, and the librarian in a Professional Development School. Each…