Factors affecting the use of computers in the classroom: four case studies

The decision of teachers whether or not to use computers depends on two basic categories of factors: factors at school level and factors at teacher level. However, teacher factors appear to be more significant than the factors at school level. Teachers have strong beliefs in respect to the content of their subject matter as well as to the pedagogy. The case-studies in one school (1989–1993) described here show that those beliefs appear to change only very slowly. Teachers adopt new media if they can use them in accordance with their existing beliefs and practice. The findings of this study coincide to a large extent with the results of many other studies of classroom practice.