An investigation of the concerns of teachers about the implementation of microcomputers in the schools

• Main Author: White, Gary Edward Martin
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1987
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/4307/; https://research.library.mun.ca/4307/1/White_GaryEdwardMartin.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/4307/3/White_GaryEdwardMartin.pdf

This study was motivated by the perceived need for appropriate staff development programs for educational computing. One element receiving scant attention in the design of such programs is the attitudes of teachers about this technology. -- The main goal of this study was to ascertain the concerns of teachers about the implementation of microcomputers in the schools. Teachers' perceptions, fears, and considerations about this technology represent their concerns. Several factors including gender, place of residence, accessibility of microcomputer at home or in school, and the date of last university study, were investigated to determine if they influenced the intensify of these concerns. Concerns of teachers at primary, elementary, junior high and senior high were examined to determine if differences were apparent. -- The subjects for this study were 467 teachers and administrators, of the public schools in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador during the school year 1986-87. Data were received from 238 or 51.0% of the sample. -- The data were gathered by use of a self-administered questionnaire that consisted of a modified version of the Stages of Concern Questionnaire together with questions designed to gather demographic data about the subjects Stratification into various subgroups was based on responses to these questions. -- Teachers who responded expressed varying levels of intensity on the seven Stages of Concern: Awareness, Informational, Personal, Management, Consequence, Collaboration, and Refocusing. Most teachers (90.8%) had their highest level of concern on the self-oriented concerns (Awareness, Informational and Personal). This indicates that teachers require more information of a general nature about this technology, what its capabilities are and how the teachers' role will be affected by introduction of the technology. -- The study found that the place of residence and the date of most recent university study did not influence the concerns of teachers. -- The accessibility of a microcomputer ...