New Student Teachers and Computers: an investigation of experiences and feelings

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Abstract
This paper reports research conducted into students’ experience of computers, and their feelings about computers, prior to the start of teacher training courses. The sample consisted of three different groups of students: a group entering a college of higher education concerned mainly with primary teacher training to start a four‐year B.Ed. course in September 1987; the equivalent September 1988 intake of the same college; and the September 1988 intake of a university one year secondary PGCE course together with the secondary PGCE intake of the college. The data was collected using a questionnaire containing factual, five‐point self rating and free response items, administered personally by the author to ensure high (90% or more) completion rates. Results for computer experience are presented in terms of frequencies of computer experience in school, undergraduate degree studies and elsewhere (including the home). In the case of feelings about computers, frequencies of positive, neutral and negative responses to a ‘gut reaction’ question are reported, together with categories of reasons expressed for these feelings obtained from analysis of a free response follow‐up question. The responses of the three groups of students are compared, and some implications of the findings for teacher education courses are discussed.

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