A study to determine the level of computer literacy in secondary business, mathematics, and computer science teachers in the state of Idaho

Abstract

Currently, computer literacy is a term that has many people, professional and non-professional, at a point of confusion. Computer literacy can be defined in a variety of ways and is dependent on the definer's interpretation. All seem to agree, though, that some level of computer literacy is necessary to be successful in the working world. The question is, at what level of computer literacy or computer competence is an individual deemed successful. The major purpose of this study is to determine the level of computer literacy of secondary Business, Mathematics, Science and Computer Science teachers in the state of Idaho. In the normal course of this paper, the researcher hopes to answer the following questions: 1. What is computer literacy? 2. What level of education was attained by those teachers currently using computers in their classrooms? 3. Which teachers are teaching computer literacy and computer programming courses? 4. What high school courses are currently utilizing computers? 5. Are new teachers (1-5 years) using more computers than teachers who have taught for more than 5 years? 6. How important do teachers feel computer skills are with respect to their teaching?