E-journal of All India Association for Educational Research (EJAIAER)

 

    VOL.20                            Nos:  3 & 4                 September & December, 2008

 

PERCEPTION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARDS COMPUTER EDUCATION

Jaspal Singh

 

INTRODUCTION

Today computers are no longer specialized tools used only by scientists or engineers. They do not hum behind sealed glass walls in climate controlled environments .Computer systems are everywhere-in places you can not see or would not anticipate to locate them. They are a fact of life, a common thread that ties together our education, work and home life. The importance of computers in our daily life will continue to increase. Learning lesson from highly developed countries of the world, government of Punjab appreciated the importance of computer education in our day to day life. The government of Punjab has launched Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project for computer education in government schools across the state for the students of class 6th to class 12th. In the first phase, 1,306 government schools were covered and in second phase 1,572 schools are being covered. There is a view point that  the conditions are not conducive for computer education in the government schools of Punjab because these schools are devoid of infrastructural facilities and teachers. Students enrolled in these schools come from lower strata of the society particularly from SC and BC families. These students neither have the paying capacity nor the awareness of the significance of computer education.

 

OBJECTIVES

1.To examine the perceptions of secondary school students towards computer education.

2.To locate the difference, if any,  between male and female students regarding their perceptions      towards computer education.

3.To investigate whether science and humanities students demonstrate different perceptions  towards computer education.

4.To find the difference, if any,  between male and female students of humanities group pertaining to their perceptions, towards computer education.

5.To discover the difference,  if any,  between male and female students of science group in respect of their perceptions  towards computer education.

 

HYPOTHESES

1.The secondary school students have favourable attitude towards computer education.

2.There will be significant difference between male and female students pertaining to their perception towards computer education.

3. Significant differences will be found between science and humanities group students regarding their perception towards computer education.

4. Male and female students of humanities group will demonstrate significant difference regarding their perception towards computer education.

5. Male and female students of science group will prove significant difference in respect of their perception towards computer education.

 

DESIGN OF THE STUDY

The present study falls in the domain of descriptive study as it intends to investigate the perception of secondary school students towards computer education.

 

Sample

A sample consisted of  200 students: 100  male (50 science and 50 humanities) and 100  female (50 science and 50 humanities). Convenient method of sampling was used for the selection of schools because only those schools were selected which were easy to approach and students were included in the sample by applying purposive technique of sampling because the students accessible on the day of visit to these schools were examined.

 

Tools  and Scoring Procedure

To collect the pertinent data, an attitude scale was constructed to measure the perception of secondary school students towards computer education following the Likert Method of constructing the attitude scale. The attitude scale comprised of 32 items. Out of these statements, 25 were positive and 7 were negative. Each statement was set against a five point scale of “Strongly Agree”, “Agree”, “Undecided”, “Disagree” and” Strongly Disagree”. Weights of 5,4,3,2 and 1 are given in that order for positive statements and scoring is reserved for negative statements. Descriptive statistics (percentage) and C. R. value were computed for the analysis of data and interpretation of results. In order to compute C.R. value,  it was also necessary to compute Means, SDs, and Standard Error of Differences.

 

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

To test first hypothesis,  descriptive statistics (percentage) were used. All the secondary school students included in the sample secured more than 60 per cent marks, 81 per cent students secured more than 69 per cent marks and 22 per cent students secured even more than 84 per cent marks. So it can safely be concluded that secondary school students demonstrate favorable perception towards computer education and hence first hypothesis of the study that secondary school students have favorable perception towards computer education is accepted. The differences between the means of sub groups were tested for significance or otherwise by employing C.R. value. The following Tables explain the details. In case of second hypothesis, it was found that difference between the mean scores of male and female students is .37and C.R value is .26 which is insignificant. These results clearly contradict the second hypothesis of the study that there will be significant difference between male and female students regarding there perception towards computer education  In case of third hypothesis, it is observed that difference between the mean scores of science and humanities group students is 2.21 and C.R. value found is 1.72 that is not’ significant at any level which leads to the rejection of the third hypothesis of the study that significant difference will be found between science and humanities group students regarding there perception towards computer education. In case of fourth hypothesis, it was found that difference between the mean scores of male and female students of humanities group is 1.00 and C.R value calculated is .046 that is not significant at any level which leads to the rejection of the fourth hypothesis of the study that significant difference will be found between male and female students of humanities group regarding their perception towards computer education. In case of fifth hypothesis, it was found that difference between the mean scores of male and, female students of science group is 1.20 and C.R value found is .046 that is not significant at any level which leads to the refutation of the fifth hypothesis of the study that significant difference will be found between male and female students of humanities group regarding there perception towards computer education.

 

FINDINGS

The secondary school students demonstrate favorable perception towards computer education. No significant difference exists between (a) male and female students concerning their perception towards computer education; (b) the science and humanities group students concerning their perception towards computer education; (c) the male and female students of science group regarding their perception towards computer education; and (d) the male and female students of humanities group on the subject of their perception towards computer education. The computer has made an escalating and influential impact upon every facet of life. Recognizing the worth towards computer education in life, government of Punjab implemented ICT project in government schools This job of the government is appreciable but it is observed by the investigator that there are many obstacles in the way of implementation of this project such as non -availability of infrastructural facilities, qualified teachers, non- paying capacity of the students and particularly non- supply of regular electricity in rural area Schools. These tribulations should be removed on priority basis so that students of government schools are benefited from this project since the results of the study are very heartening as hundred per cent students demonstrate positive perception towards computer education.