Educators\u27 Use of a Statewide Telecomputing Network: A Descriptive Analysis

This study investigated educators’ use of TENET, a statewide educational telecomputing network in Texas. It also documented the development and testing of a lengthy theorybased questionnaire and verified the efficacy of a method for administering surveys via electronic mail. A 70-item survey was sent to a random sample of 300 TENET users. The response rate was 66%. The majority of respondents were highly experienced and educated public school teachers, support staff, and administrators, who were experienced computer users with easy access to equipment needed to use TENET. About half had taught themselves to use the system and nearly 40% had no ongoing source of assistance for using it. Most worked with others who also used TENET and reported talking with others about their network use. Participants logged on to TENET an average of 4-6 times per week. Electronic mail was the most often used network function. Nearly all felt TENET was useful, both as a means for communicating with others and for accessing information. The network served professional, as well as social and diversionary functions. Respondents expressed a need for more time and assistance for learning to use the network, better network connectivity within schools, and greater access for students