Attitudes of Egyptian Teachers towards Computers

Year 2011, Volume: 2 Issue: 4, 308 - 318, 01.12.2011

Samira M. Bakr

Abstract

Appraisal of teacher attitudes towards computers has gained importance following the widespread availability of microcomputers in schools all around the world. This study aims at investigating Egyptian teachers' attitudes towards computers in terms of gender and years of teaching experience. Attitudes of a sample of 118 public school teachers, 53 (45%) male and 65 (55%) female, were assessed using ‘The Attitude Towards Computer Instrument’ (ATCI), developed by Shaft et al (2004), which is a Likert type instrument with three factors of affective, cognitive, and behavioral. The gathered data were analyzed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings showed that the Egyptian public school teachers' attitudes towards computers are positive. There were no significant differences in terms of gender and teaching experience. Recommendations for further research are provided.

Keywords

Attitudes towards computers, ATCI, Teachers' attitudes, Egyptian teachers, Microcomputers in schools

References

• Albirini, A. (2006). Teachers’ attitudes toward information and communication technologies: The case of Syrian EFL teachers. Computers & Education, 47(4), 373-398.
• Aiken, L. R. (1996). Rating scales and checklists: Evaluating behavior, personality, and attitudes. Canada: John Wiley & Sons.
• Al-Zaidiyeen, N., Mei, L., & Fook, F. (2010). Teachers’ attitudes and levels of technology use in classrooms: The case of Jordan schools. International Education Studies, 3(2), 211-218.
• Barrier, T. & Margavio, T. (1992). Pretest-posttest measure of introductory computer students' attitude towards computers. Journal of Information System Education, 5(3), 53-58
• Barry, C. & Gibbons, L. (1990). Information systems technology: Barriers and challenges to implementation. Journal of Nursing Administration, 20(2), 40–42.
• Broos, A. (2005). Gender and information and communication technologies (ICT) anxiety: Male self-assurance and female hesitation. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 8, 21-31.
• Bandalos, D. & Benson, J. (1990). Testing the factor structure invariance of a computer attitude scale over two grouping conditions. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 50(1), 49-60.
• Brosnan, M. & Lee, W. (1998) Across-cultural comparison of sex differences in computer attitudes and anxieties: The United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Computers in Human Behavior, 14(4), 559-577.
• Cavas, B., Cavas, P., Karaoglan, B. & Kisla, T. (2010). A study on science teachers' attitude toward information and communication technologies in education. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 8(2), 20-32.
• Chen, J. & Chang, C. (2006). Using computers in early childhood classrooms: Teachers' attitudes, skills and practices. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 4(2), 169-188.
• Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Research method in education (Fifth Edition). New York: Routledge.
• Colley, A. & Comber, C. ( 2003) Age and gender differences in computer use and attitudes among secondary school students: What has changed? Educational Research, 45(2), 155-165.
• Egyptian Association for Education Technology Conference (2000, May). Recommendation. Cairo.
• Francis-Pelton, L. & Pelton, T. W. (1996). Building attitudes: How a technology course affects preservice teachers’attitudes about technology. Retrieved from http://www.math. byu.edu/ ~lfrancis/tim’s-page/attitusite.htm
• Gibson, S. & Rose, M. (1986). Managing computer resistance. Personal Computing, 4(5), 201– 204.
• Gressard, C. P. & Loyd, B. H. (1986). Validation studies of a new computer attitude scale. Association for Educational Data Systems Journal, 18(4), 295–301.
• Karasar, N. (2005). Bilimsel arastirma yontemleri (15. baski). Ankara: Nobel.
• Kay, R. (1990) Predicting student teacher commitment to the use of computers. Journal of Educational Computer Research, 6, 299-309.
• Krendl, K., Broihier, M., & Fleetwood, C. ( 1989). Children & computer: Do sex-related differences persist? Journal of Communication, 39, 89-93.
• Kutluca, T. (2010) Investigation of teachers’ computer usage profiles and attitudes toward computers. International Online Journal of Science, 2(1), 81-97.
• Levin, T. & Wadmany, R. (2007). Teachers’ beliefs and practices in technology-based classrooms: A developmental view. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 39(2), 157–181.
• Lightbody, M. & Jones, L.S. (1998, April). A comparison of the efficacy of different models of technology instruction for inservice teachers. Paper presented at the Annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Education. San Diego, CA.
• Loyd, B., Loyd, D., & Gressard , C. (1987) Gender and computer experience as factors in computer attitudes of middle school students. Journal of Early Adolescence, 7, 13-19.
• Marasovic, C., Kenney, C., Elliott, D., & Sindhusake, D. (1997). Attitudes of Australian nurses toward implementation of a clinical information system. Computers in Nursing, 15(2), 91–98.
• Mehling, R. (1959). A simple test for measuring the intensity of attitudes. Public Opinion Quarterly, 23(4), 576–578.
• Ministry of Education. (1999). Mubarak and education: The national project for developing education. Cairo: Ministry of Education Press.
• Myers, J. M. & Halpin, R. (2002). Teachers’ attitudes and use of multimedia technology in the classroom: Constructivist-based professional development training for school districts. Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 18(4), 133-140.
• Negron, J. A. (1995). The impact of computer anxiety and computer resistance on the use of computer technology by nurses. Journal of Nursing Staff Development, 11(3), 172–175.
• North, A. S. & Noyes, J. M. (2002). Gender influences on children’s computer attitudes and related differences. Journal of Communication, 39, 89-93.
• Ray, C. M., Sormunen, C., & Harris, T. M. (1999). Men's and women's attitudes toward computer technology: A comparison. Office Systems Research Journal, 17(1), 1-8.
• Robson, C. (1997). Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner- researchers. Oxford: Blackwell.
• Rovai, A. & Childress, M. (2002). Explaining and predicting resistance to computer anxiety reduction among teacher education students. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 35(2), 226-235.
• Sadik, A. (2005). Factors influencing teachers’ attitudes towards personal use and schools use of computers: New evidence from a developing nation. Evaluation Review, 2(1), 1-29.
• Sadik, A. (2006). Factors influencing teachers’ attitudes toward personal use and school use of science teaching. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 418 869).
• Samak, Z. A. (2006). An exploration of Jordanian English language teachers’ attitudes, skills, and access as indicator of information and communication technology integration in Jordan (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Tallahassee: Florida State University.
• Shaft, T., Sharfman, M. &Wu, W. (2004). Reliability assessment of the attitude towards computers instrument (ATCI). Computers in Human Behavior, 20, 661–689.
• Shapkaa, J. and Ferrarib, M. (2003) Computer-related attitudes and actions teacher candidates. Computers in Human Behavior, 20(3), 319-334.
• Sheiderman, B . (1980) Software psychology. Cambridge, MA: Winthrop.
• Teo, T . (2008 a) Pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards computer use: a Singapore survey. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 24, 413-424.
• Teo, T. (2008). Assessing the computer attitudes of students: an Asian perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 24(4), 1634–1642.
• Warschauer, M. (2003a). The allures and illusions of modernity: Technology and educational reform in Egypt. Educational Policy Analysis Archive, 11(38). Retrieved from http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/266.
• Warschauer, M.(2003b). Dissecting the “digital divide”: A case study in Egypt. Information Society, 19(4), 297-304.
• Warschauer, M. (2004). The rhetoric and reality of aid: Promoting educational technology in Egypt. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 2(3), 377-90.
• Woodrow, J. (1992). The influence of programming training on the computer literacy and attitudes of pre-service teachers. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 25(2), 200-218.
• Woodrow, J. (1991). A comparison of four computer attitude scales. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 7, 165-187.
• Yaghmaie, F., Jayasuriya, R., & Rawstorne, P. (1998).Computer experience and computer attitude: A model to predict the use of computerized information systems. Human Computer Interaction, 52(2), 895–899.
• Yildirim, S. & Kaban, A. (2010). Attitudes of pre-service teachers about computer supported education. International Journal of Human Sciences, 7(2). Retrieved 1 July 2011 from http://www.insanbilimleri.com/ojs/index.php/uib/article/view/1102/576
• Yildirim, S. (2000). Effects of an educational computing course on preservice and inservice teachers: A discussion and analysis of attitudes and use. Journal of Research on Computing in Education. 34(4), 479-95.
• Correspondence: Samira Mohamed Bakr, Ph.D., Curricula Specialist and Teacher Trainer,
• Center for Curricula and Instructional Material Development (CCIMD), Ministry of Education, Cairo, Egypt.