Abstract
M.Ed.
The increasing use of information technology in education around the globe
has raised important questions about the relationship between the educator
and the computer. This study examined the educators' perception of the role
of computers at the school, in teaching and learning, and their perception of
the impact of computer implementation at the school in comparison with
worldwide implementation.
The data was drawn from several educators from a single school with varying
perceptions about the role of computers at the school who participated in
focus group interviews and allowed participant observation of the researcher
at their school.
Although all educators expected to benefit from computer implementation at
the school, they felt that computer implementation at the school did not benefit
them to their satisfaction due to lack of access to the computer room,
relegation of computers to a single subject of computer literacy, lack of
exposure, limited programs, and the context of the school (management)
which were viewed as barriers to successful implementation of computers at
the school. The study concludes that for educators to implement the use of computers in
a constructive manner, they must have opportunities to (experiment) learn
about computers (knowledge and skills) in a supportive climate that promotes
staff development.