Computer literacy levels and attitudes towards computers of California school site adminstrators

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to quantify and analyze the computer literacy levels and attitudes towards computers of school site administrators, and thereby establish a baseline of knowledge for future decisions regarding the integration of computers in education. Procedure: A fifty item survey, based on objectives supplied by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium, was developed. The items were designed to assess experiences, attitudes and knowledge relative to computers. The survey was sent to a random sample of 603 California school site administrators functioning in unified school districts. Responses to research questions were based on appropriate statistical procedures including one-way analyses of variance and Pearson correlations. Findings: Fifty-four percent of the surveys were returned. A majoiity of the administrators have used the computer at least once in their career. Workshops and self-directed study experiences were identified as being the most useful type of exposure to computers. Administrators indicated a substantial amount of support for computers in education, both for students and peers. Administrators expressed some uncertainty about their ability to make decisions regarding computers at their school. There was little difference observed in computer literacy levels and attitudes of administrators from various regions of the state, levels of administration, or ranges of district ADA. A positive correlation was found to exist between attitudes and computer literacy levels. Recommendations: Administrator preservice training should include the educational use of computers. School districts should pursue an inservice program designed to give staff members experience with computers. A study is needed to review the availability and quality of computer related college courses for educators. A study should be conducted to determine the differences in computer literacy levels and attitudes of administrators with varying experiences. This study should be replicated with administrators classified by sex, years of administrative experience and school setting. A comparative analysis of preservice and practicing administrator computer literacy levels and attitudes should be conducted. A longitudinal study should be conducted, utilizing a modified form of the survey developed in this research project