Identifies three basic types of students of technical writing who fear writing with a computer. Offers suggestions to encourage them (and all technical writing students) to at least become more comfortable and current with writing technology. (SR)

This study of 296 undergraduate students investigates relationships concerning computer efficacy, attitudes toward computers, and need for learning computer skills. Multiple regression revealed attitudes toward computers, and computer self-efficacy, were significant predictors of the need for learning computing skills between two groups of…

Identifies six stages adult learners pass through as they become confident using electronic mail. Understanding the stages of learning to use technology empowers the learner through the knowledge that feelings of tension and frustration will be overcome. (Author/AEF)

Examines the degree to which computer and test anxiety have a predictive role in performance across three computer-administered placement tests. Subjects (72 undergraduate students) were measured with the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale, the Test Anxiety Inventory, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Results suggest that much of what is considered…

This research seeks to find the most effective mode of instruction which can assist undergraduate students in gaining initial computing skills while alleviating anxiety by contrasting a traditional direct teaching approach with one that emphasizes self-regulation within a cooperative learning context. Specifically, the study compares the…

Through research data collected from 75 Taiwanese eighth graders enrolled in a computer course, this study revealed that students with higher-order metacognitive skills in monitoring their comprehension, selecting main ideas, and using resources helpful for learning tended to have higher computer achievement, better computer attitudes, and lower…

This practicum was designed to lessen the computer anxiety of early childhood education majors enrolled in General Curriculum or General Methods courses, to assist them in learning more about computer applications, and to increase the amount of time spent using computers. Weekly guidelines were given to the students, and a hands-on approach was…

This pilot study examined variables that could influence attitudes toward learning and working with computers of preservice teachers at the beginning and end of an introduction to educational technology computer course taught at the University of Central Florida's College of Education during Summer 1997. The variables examined in the study were…

This practicum was designed to initiate the use of computers in an elementary setting. There is a need for all teachers to be technologically informed about computers in order to properly and successfully develop a student's capability in technology. This practicum examines computer anxiety and what can be done to eliminate this fear. An analysis…

The factors influencing students' decisions not to use computers during their education are explored, using focus-group interviews with 96 secondary and college students in the United Kingdom. Three main constructs underlying students' rejection of educational computing are defined, and how educational computing can be reconstructed is discussed.…

This study examined specific classroom events and teaching practices that promoted positive attitudes and emotions by students in college computer courses. Analysis of student journals and interviews indicated specific classroom events and teaching practices lessened students' computer anxiety, promoted understanding of computers, and increased…

To learn more about students' computer-literacy levels and attitudes about computer use, a pilot study was performed in the summer of 1993 to evaluate the computer literacy of first-year students entering the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. A survey was completed by 444 incoming students during their orientation programs. The majority had some…

Examined computer attitudes of elementary education students over a 10-year period. Found that the more recent elementary education majors had more prior computer experience and lower computer anxiety than those entering a program earlier in the 10-year period; and that male elementary education majors had higher computer anxiety than female ones.…

A University of Melbourne (Australia) study investigated the computer experience of students entering the university and their computer experiences in an introductory course in communication skills. Subjects were 45 students in four classes. The study examined how and where students used computers, computer use in other university courses,…

In this study, the effects of an introductory computer class versus a content-specific course, computers across the curriculum class were examined for changes in computer anxiety and computer concerns. Computer anxiety was measured with a modified version of the Spielberger Self Evaluation Instrument. To track and compare changes in pre-service…