A Computer Literacy Course for the College of Agriculture: A Survey of Student Attitudes, Evaluations and Performance

Exact date of working paper unknown.The emerging computer-based information technologies may dramatically alter agriculture and its related industries. To be adequately prepared for a future in agriculture, graduates of colleges of agriculture should have a basic understanding of capabilities and limitations of the computer. This is a report of recent experiences in a "computer literacy" course for students of agriculture. Questionnaires were administered at the beginning and end of the course to elicit student attitudes regarding the usage of computers in agriculture. Results indicate significant changes in attitudes over the quarter. At course end, students reported a higher respect for the usefulness of the computer in agriculture and their particular discipline. Beginning attitude and level of apprehension about the course were found to be significant determinants of student performance in and evaluation of the course