Computer readiness in grade one
Date
1986
Authors
Phillips, Susan E.
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the effects that the implementation of a computer-based learning system into a first grade classroom had on the computer knowledge, computer-using skills and keyboard skills of the students.
Two groups of first grade students provided the data for the study. Both groups were interviewed and pretested. Approximately three months later, the two groups were posttested. During the intervening three months, one of the groups, the Experimental Group, had used a computer-based learning system as part of the reading and writing curriculum. The second group, the Control Group, did not use computers in the classroom during the three-month period. The results indicated that the average child tested had an initial knowledge of what computers looked like and what they were used for. However, the average child could not identify computer components, boot a computer correctly, nor input accurately on a keyboard.
After the three month period of computer use, the posttest results from the Experimental Group indicated significant improvements in the areas tested. The posttest mean scores from the Experimental Group in Computer Vocabulary, Computer-Using Skills and Keyboard Skills were all significantly greater than the corresponding mean pretest scores.
Comparisons of the pre- and posttest mean scores from the Control Group also indicated significant improvement over the three months in the Computer Vocabulary, Computer-Using Skills and Keyboard Skills tests. However, t-tests were carried out on the posttest mean scores from the Experimental and Control Groups and showed significant differences. The Experimental Group mean scores had improved significantly when compared to the mean scores from the Control Group in all the three posttests.
The study supported the conclusions that first grade students can learn to use computers successfully as educational tools, and that they do have the psychomotor abilities necessary to acquire keyboard skills.