Assessing the perceptions of prospective teachers related to computer skills according to various variables

Abstract

The objective of the study was to compare the perceptions of prospective teachers related to computer skills according to various variables. The study was conducted as a descriptive survey method,a computer skills scale developed by the researchers was used. Sampling of the study contained 482 students studying teaching in the Faculties of Education atFırat and Istanbul Universities. Independent groups t-test, oneway Anova, Kruskal Wallis H and Mann Whitney U test were employed in the comparison of views of
prospective teachers on the scale of computer skills. According to the findings obtained during the study, there is no significant variation between the views of prospective teachers on the scale of computer skills based on the variable of age. However, there were significant variations between the views of prospective teachers on the scale of computer skills depending on the Faculty of Education in which the student studied teaching in terms of gender, department and whether the student had a computer or not. It was understood that increasing the experiences with a computer during their education before they start teaching would bring prospective teachers a chance in developing a positive attitude for the matter and improving their computer skills. Thus, it is believed that certain efforts like increasing classes including computer in programs related to teaching, supporting facilities for accessing computers in student hostels/dormitories may produce advantageous results with respect to computer skills.