Integration of IT into the school curricula: perceptions of kindergarden to highschool (K-12) teachers

ABSTRACT

Computer use in schools is still low compared to use in other sectors of the economy. Recent surveys have found that even in schools on the leading edge in computer use, slightly less than half (42%) of the teachers use computers for instruction. This pilot study investigates the perceptions of K-12 teachers with respect to the integration of computers into the school curricula. The study is important given the recent efforts by federal, state and local governments to stimulate the use of computers in schools. A total of 1280 teachers from a South Western USA school district participated in the survey. Preliminary analyses show that causes of non-integration of computers in the school curricula are not solely determined by individual or software characteristics but the result of interaction between individual, software, and school environment characteristics. The findings confirm interactionist theories of resistance of change.

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