The creation of an effective learning environment requires cultural competency--the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Cultural competency means knowing and understanding the people that you serve. This study compares American and Chinese student's readiness and willingness to use innovative technology by assessing…

The introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the school curricula raised some hopes that it could minimize gender differences in learning. The interactive nature of ICT materials was believed to provide a favorable environment especially for girls to learn. This article reports the findings of the study that analyzed…

Research on the impact of technology integration in colleges of education is often conflicting and rarely evaluated well. It therefore remains unclear which strategies are most effective for integrating technology in a teacher preparation program and how those strategies should be delivered over time. To better understand the effectiveness of…

Researchers have noted that technological innovation and advocacy has far outpaced research on how teachers learn to incorporate technologies into their classrooms, perhaps leading to slower integration of technologies into schools. Therefore, the purpose of the study was use cognitive developmental learning theory to examine shifts in preservice…

This study explored the efficacy of web-based instruction in topics in elementary school mathematics in fostering teachers' confidence and competence in using instructional technology, and thereby promoting more positive attitudes toward using computers and Internet resources in the mathematics classroom. The results indicated that students who…

This study captured the perceptions of pre-service teachers as they relate to online instruction. Twenty-five preservice teachers enrolled in a graduate level introductory special education course responded to a questionnaire. The course was taught with WebCT. Findings indicate that pre-service teachers are satisfied with their online learning.…

Discusses the role of computers in today's world and the construction of computer use attitudes, such as gender gaps. Suggests how schools might close the gaps. Includes a brief explanation about how facility with computers is important for women in their efforts to gain equitable treatment in all aspects of their lives. (PA)

Tests, in two studies, whether people respond to computer personalities the same way they respond to human personalities: experiment 1 matched dominant and submissive subjects with a computer endowed with like characteristics; experiment 2 used the same experimental design to assess users' psychological responses to changes in personality-based…

Suggests ways for educators to become computer literate: (1) admit you don't know about computers; (2) be patient with yourself; (3) read about technology; (4) get a home computer; (5) attend training; (6) experiment; (7) ask for assistance; and (8) talk with others about what works for them. (AEF)

An interpretive paradigm was used to distill four themes from interviews with six nursing students about information and communications technology. Themes were initial intimidation in learning computers, lack of time and motivation to learn, the crucial nature of computer ownership to facilitate experimentation, and limited access to computers in…

Discussion of user satisfaction with computers focuses on a study that tested the construct validity and reliability of the End User Computing Satisfaction Instrument. Highlights include the relationship of user satisfaction and computer attitudes, computer anxiety, computer skill, and computer usage; and implications for the management of…

Discusses the use of beliefs to guide researchers in the development of computer-based learning. Topics include properties of beliefs; beliefs about learning; beliefs about computer technologies; directions for computer-based learning, including multimedia technology, virtual reality, and groupware; and learning rationales, including…

Describes a study of preservice teachers that investigated two types of Internet connectivity to determine whether access to graphical user interface (GUI) tools increase both the level of use and positive attitudes toward technology. Results at mid-point reveal more positive attitudes and more time spent by using GUI tools. (Author/LRW)

Provides a synthesis of the research findings on gender differences in the field of computers. Examines several popular theories of why the differences exist and what to do about them. (AEF)

Describes a study that examined changes in preservice and inservice teachers' attitudes toward computers following their participation in an educational computing class and explored factors that contributed to their computer use. Discusses prior computer experience, having home computers, and current use of technology in the school at which they…