How women learn to use computers : overcoming negative attitudes toward computers during the learning process /
Using qualitative research, the purpose of this study was to explore events that cause women to learn negative attitudes or fears toward computers, as well as to determine what strategies the women used in overcoming these barriers in order to become computer literate. This was accomplished by exam...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1995.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=741213351&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Using qualitative research, the purpose of this study was to explore events that cause women to learn negative attitudes or fears toward computers, as well as to determine what strategies the women used in overcoming these barriers in order to become computer literate. This was accomplished by examining the attitudes of a group of women toward computers and by following the women through the process of learning to use computers. The target population for this study was a group of women enrolled in the Microcomputer Applications for Educators course offered at Texas A&M University during the summer sessions of 1994. All 12 women in the study were required to take the course as one of the core courses in pursuit of their undergraduate degree and certification in Teacher Education. The findings describe the process of learning about computers as these women experienced it. The first finding is that negative attitudes and fear stem from early life experiences and beliefs about computers. Their past experiences and beliefs led these women to view the computer as an adversary. The second finding is that women in this study were successful learners because of the perceived safe learning environment in which they found themselves. The women described the instructor as supportive and approachable. The availability of instructional materials and individual computers, as well as the collaboration of fellow classmates, were important factors in leading to successful learning experiences. The third finding describes the process the women went through in learning to use the computer. The process began as they experienced success in building initial knowledge, and thus discovering that they could learn. Their early success built their confidence and this enabled these women to develop an exploratory approach to learning, something they called "playing around." Through the use of discovery, exploration, and trial and error these women were able to learn to use the computer in a manner that worked best for them. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Educational Human Resource Development". |
| Physical Description: | ix, 165 leaves ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |