Teaching Pre-service Teachers Technology: An Innovative Approach

This pilot study examined variables that could influence attitudes toward learning and working with computers of preservice teachers at the beginning and end of an introduction to educational technology computer course taught at the University of Central Florida's College of Education during Summer 1997. The variables examined in the study were computer attitudes (computer anxiety, computer confidence, computer liking, and computer usefulness) and student perceptions. Twenty-six students enrolled in the course completed the Computer Attitude Scale (CAS) pretest and posttest. The basic curriculum and course issues that were considered to be fundamental to the overall success of the course were curriculum issues, high impact and low threat, classroom issues and design, and continuous emphasis on key basic skills. Findings indicated that, after completion of the course, students had less anxiety and a more positive attitude toward