Computer Attitudes of Teachers and Students in Relationship to Gender and Grade Level

Teachers' and students' Efficacy and Sex-typing attitudes toward computers in schools from contrasting settings are examined, with females showing stronger feelings for equity in computer use and careers than males did.

Abstract

The two studies reported here examined teachers' and students' Efficacy and Sex-typing attitudes toward computers in schools from contrasting settings. The first study analyzed computer attitudes of 491 participants (318 students, 173 teachers) in a district with an across-the-grades educational computing curriculum in place for almost two years. The second study assessed attitudes of 421 students and teachers (331 students, 90 teachers) in schools which were in the early stages of computer implementation. In the first study, there were significant differences in sense of Efficacy between teachers and students. Both studies found significant differences in Efficacy attitudes by grade level, with the second study showing differential effects by gender and group (teacher/student). Sex-typing attitudes were found to be significantly different for males and females in both studies, with females showing stronger feelings for equity in computer use and careers than males did. Teachers in Study 2 showed significantly higher attitudes of equity than students.