Effectiveness of a microcomputer-training workshop for college professionals

摘要

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-week microcomputer training workshop for college professionals. Measuring instruments were developed specifically for this purpose. Goals were to increase proficiency with, understanding of, and knowledge about computers, to reduce nervousness, and to examine the effects of prior attitude toward the computer on workshop effectiveness. Participants were 24 female and 27 male college professional staff; the majority were professors. Instruction, by other college faculty and staff, was provided for three consecutive hours per day. Participants completed questionnaires immediately before and after the workshop. Reliability analyses showed that the measuring instruments had good internal consistency. Repeated-measures analyses of variance found that participants thought computers were more understandable, and described themselves as less nervous, more knowledgeable, and more proficient after the workshop than before. Results also showed that general computer attitude had no effect, but that a more specific measure of perceived computer clarity was related to workshop effectiveness. Thus, the results demonstrated that group training using peer instruction was successful with a college sample.