Instructional computer uses among accomplished computer using teachers : a Tennessee sample

The purpose of this study was to identify ways that Tennessee public teachers accomplished in the instructional use of computers employ computers for instruction. A questionnaire was sent to 100 of these teachers who were nominated by state department of education representatives. The survey response rate was 97 percent which subsequently yielded a usable sample of 89 teacher questionnaires.

The respondents were made up of 72 (81%) female and 17 (19%) male teachers. The average age was 44 with ages ranging from 25 to 60. Sixty-two (69%) of the teachers were aged 42 through 52 and 72 (81%) of the teachers had taught for 13 or more years. There were 47 (53%) elementary (K-5) teachers, 20 (22%) middle school (6-9) teachers and 22 (25%) high school (10-12) teachers. Twelve different subject areas were represented among the teachers of the sample.

The resulting quantitative data were calculated by computer and generated into tables and graphs which revealed usage levels for the various computer applications and instructional approaches. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically and reported in narrative form.

BASIC and Logo were the computer applications the greatest number of respondents reported no longer using for instruction. The highest numbers of teachers indicated they would like to try communications applications (i.e., school to home and school to school programs) and graphic and creative arts applications (i.e., 3-D modeling, animation, scanning and photo-manipulation programs).

The computer applications the greatest number of teachers reported using for instruction were the traditional computer assisted instructional software applications of drill-and-practice and tutorial programs. The computer application used most frequently for instruction was word processing. The instructional approach employed with computers used by the most teachers and also used most frequently was practicing.

Teachers described the most productive and interesting use of the computer as a multipurpose tool which students employed for producing report related documents and class presentations, as a skill builder and instructional aid, and as a resource for data collection/processing skills. Students used multiple combinations of programs to carry out these learning activities.