Abstract:

Abstract enAs the technology develops, as a result of its integration in educational sphere, with an approach considering individual differences, contemporary societies aim at educating individuals, with active roles to reach knowledge, who are able to think fast and creatively and construct knowledge in their own minds. Computers and computer technologies have become indispensable elements of human life as the progressing technology is widely used. Educating qualified individuals in educational institutions is made possible when individuals use their knowledge and skills properly. In modern societies, it is tremendously important for teachers and students to be skilled in computer technologies in terms of their individual development and information literacy. Many studies have been and are being conducted on individuals‟ computer skills and attitudes towards computers. Computers have considerable emphasis in our daily lives. Therefore, students are taught computer classes from elementary levels on. Attitudes are among emphasized elements within learning and teaching process. The purpose of measuring attitudes for education and instruction may be about predicting individuals‟ behaviors to be exhibited in time or further and, based on this, altering the existing or constructing novel situations. The current research aims at determining middle school students‟ attitudes toward computers and examining these on various variables. The study used a qualitative survey model. “The Computer Attitude Scale”, developed by Loyd and Gressard (1984), translated into Turkish by Berberoglu and Calikoglu (1991), and re-adapted into Turkish by Serefhanoglu, Nakiboglu, and Gur (2008), was used as the data collection tool. The study sample consisted of 195 middle school students who attended 5th grade (41), 6th grade (49), 7th grade (62), and 8th grade (43) at a high-SES school in the city of Sakarya. Analyses showed that middle school students‟ attitudes towards computers did not differ on the grade level and ownership of a computer whereas students‟ attitudes towards computers significantly differed on gender and curiosity levels towards computerrelated news and information. Suggestions, based on findings, about the study and for future research were included in the current study

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