A STUDY ON AWARENESS OF COMPUTER AMONG B.Ed.

TRAINEES
WHAT IS A COMPUTER Computer is a device, which can receive and display information, and it is power driven machine equipped with keyboard, monitor, electronic circuits, storage compartment and recording devices to carry our mathematical operations. Therefore, computer is a machine that stores, processes information and calculates electronically at a very high speed. ROLE OF COMPUTER IN EDUCATION Computers are powerful instruments, which can be used for successfully achieving a number of educational goals. They stimulate and support various teaching-learning processes and activities. Computers may have profound effect, not only upon the development of childrens minds, but also upon the nature of education itself. Computers are not just passive instruments added to the classroom and they are not neutral black boxes. Computer is a versatile technological instrument that can be used in fostering childrens thinking and learning. NEED AND SIGNIFIGANCE OF THE STUDY Educational technology plays a dominant role in proper planning and improving the quality of education. Education technology which deals with effective planning and utilization of available human and non-human resources to maximize human learning, necessitates the introduction of these techniques and tools for the training of teachers. The awareness of computer helps the teacher to appreciate and adopt emerging communication technology and innovative practices. It provides guidance for the development of a high quality strategies technology plan. It enables the teacher to update the new knowledge and the skill to use the new digital tools and resources. TITLE OF THE PROBLEM A STUDY ON AWARENESS OF COMPUTER AMONG B.Ed. TRAINEES

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS Awareness It is a process of acquiring knowledge about computer. Computer It is the scientific and technological discipline which deals with collection, strong and dissemination of information to the individuals. Awareness of computer It is the process of knowing the functions of computer, operations of computer, utilization of computer and uses of computer-how they work, how they help to solves the problems of todays world. B.Ed., Trainees Students those who are studying Bachelor of education, after finishing their graduation. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To find out the level of the study of awareness of computer among B.Ed., Trainees SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1. To find out the level of the study of awareness of computer among B.Ed., Trainees with reference to background variables. 2. To find out the level of the study of awareness of computer among B.Ed., Trainees with reference to background variables. HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY 1. There is no significant difference between male and female B.Ed. Trainees in the awareness of computer and its dimensions. 2. There is no significant difference between science and arts B.Ed. Trainees in the awareness of computer and its dimensions.

DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 1. The sample of the study is limited to only nine B.Ed. college students. 2. The study deals with B.Ed. College students in virudhunagar district only. 3 The investigator has taken only one variable namely awareness of computer among B.Ed. trainees for his present study. 4. Only the students form private colleges have been taken as the sample for the present study. 5. The present study included only 5 dimensions of, computer awareness, internal awareness, E-mail awareness, website awareness and computer virus awareness. METHOD USED IN THE STUDY The Investigator used survey method for the study. POPULATION FOR THE STUDY The population of the study includes the students of B.Ed., courses in Virudhunagar district. SAMPLE OF THE STUDY The investigator has used simple random sampling technique for selecting the colleges under Tamilnadu Teachers Education University, Chennai. The investigator selected the B.Ed., colleges in Virudhunagar District. Investigator selected 500 B.Ed. students from 9 colleges in this district, giving importance to gender and location of college. TOOLS USED IN THE PRESENT STUDY Awareness of computers scale seveloped and validated by the investigator with the help of guide. STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES USED IN THE PRESENT STUDY The Investigator has used the following statistics techniques 1. Percentage Analysis 2. Arithmetic Mean 3. Standard Deviation

4.

t test

5. Anova

OBJECTIVE The level of awareness of computer and its dimensions among B.Ed trainees in terms of gender. TABLE LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF COMPUTER AND ITS DIMENSIONS AMONG B.Ed TRAINEES IN TERMS OF GENDER Dimensions Computer awareness Internet awareness E-mail awareness Website awareness Computer virus awareness Awareness of computer in total Variables Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Low Count 34 85 8 95 34 71 41 62 35 84 28 70 % 24.8 23.4 5.8 26.2 24.8 19.6 29.9 17.1 25.5 23.1 20.4 19.3 Moderate Count 89 233 121 220 74 213 72 234 83 207 82 235 % 65.0 64.2 88.3 60.6 54.0 58.7 52.6 64.5 60.6 57.0 59.9 64.7 High Count 14 45 8 48 29 79 24 67 19 72 27 58 % 10.2 12.4 5.8 13.2 21.2 21.8 17.5 18.5 13.9 19.8 19.7 16.0

It is inferred from the above table that the level of awareness of computer and its dimensions among B.Ed., trainees in terms of gender is moderate. It is found out that the level of female B.Ed. trainees is higher (64.7%) than male B.Ed. trainees (59.9%) in awareness of computer in total. Among the moderate values, male B.Ed trainees have scored high value in the dimension internet awareness (88.3%) and low in the dimension website awareness (52.6%).

FIGURE LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF COMPUTER AND ITS DIMENSIONS AMONG B.Ed TRAINEES IN TERMS OF GENDER

Hypothesis: 1 There is no significant difference between male and female B.Ed. trainees in their awareness of computer and its dimensions. TABLE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE B.Ed. TRAINEES IN THEIR AWARENESS OF COMPUTER AND ITS DIMENSIONS Dimensions Computer awareness Variation Male Female Internet awareness Male Female e-mail awareness Male Female Website awareness Male Female Computer virus awareness Awareness of computer in total Male Female Male Female Mean 2.20 2.28 1.99 2.23 2.45 2.49 2.28 2.58 2.26 2.40 11.17 11.93 S.D 1.06 1.06 1.03 1.12 1.22 1.20 1.12 1.05 1.12 1.15 3.66 3.86 2.09 S 1.25 NS 2.29 S 0.33 NS 2.36 S t value 0.74 Remark NS

(At 5% level of the significance, the value of t is 1.96) It is inferred from the above table that there is significant difference between male and female B.Ed. trainees in the awareness of computer in total and the dimensions internet awareness and website awareness. From the mean value it is inferred that female B.Ed. trainees (11.93) are better than male B.Ed. trainees (11.17) in awareness of computer in total.

FIGURE 2 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE B.Ed. TRAINEES IN THEIR AWARENESS OF COMPUTER AND ITS DIMENSIONS

Hypothesis: 3 There is no significant difference between science and arts subjects B.Ed. trainees in the awareness of computer and its dimensions. TABLE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCIENCE AND ARTS SUBJECTS B.Ed. TRAINEES IN THE AWARENESS OF COMPUTER AND ITS DIMENSIONS Dimensions Computer awareness Variation Science Arts Science Arts Science Arts Science Arts Science Arts Science Arts Mean 2.39 2.07 2.26 2.03 2.62 2.28 2.57 2.33 2.45 2.24 12.28 10.96 S.D 1.04 1.05 1.15 1.01 1.22 1.15 1.06 1.08 1.16 1.11 3.65 3.36 t value 3.31 Remark S

Internet awareness

2.36

e-mail awareness

3.19

Website awareness

2.39

Computer virus awareness Awareness of computer in total

2.02

4.18

(At 5% level of significance, the value of t is 1.96) It is inferred from the above table that there is significant difference between science and arts subjects B.Ed. trainees in the awareness of computer and its dimensions. From the mean value it is inferred that science subjects B.Ed. trainees are better (12.28) than arts subjects B.Ed. trainees (10.96) in the awareness of computer in total.

FINDINGS 1. The level of the awareness of computer and its dimensions among B.Ed., trainees in terms of gender is moderate. It is found out that the level of awareness of computer in total of female B.Ed. trainees is higher (64.7%) than male B.Ed. trainees (59.9%). Among the moderate values, male B.Ed trainees have scored high value in the dimension internet awareness (88.3%) and low in the dimension website awareness (52.6%). 2. There is significant difference between male and female B.Ed. trainees in the awareness of computer in total and the dimensions internet awareness and website awareness. From the mean value it is inferred that female B.Ed. trainees are better (13.55) than male B.Ed. trainees in the awareness of computer in total. 3. There is significant difference between science subjects and arts subjects B.Ed. trainees in their awareness of computer and its dimensions. From the mean value it is inferred that the science subjects B.Ed. trainees are better (12.28) than the arts subjects B.Ed. trainees (10.96) in awareness of computer in total. INTERPRETATIONS 1. The t test shows that there is significant difference between male and female B.Ed. trainees in internet awareness and website awareness. This may be due to the fact that female B.Ed. trainees may be more interested to know about the internet and website. So, they visit many websites and download the information. Hence, they have more internet awareness and website awareness. 2. The t test shows that there is significant difference between arts subjects and science subjects B.Ed. trainees in computer awareness, internet awareness, e-mail awareness, website awareness and computer virus awareness. This may be due to the fact that the science subjects students are exposed to various softwares, and MS-office programme in school and college level. Science subjects students use email, and are also aware of software and virus problems, while they download information and images from websites which are sometimes infected.

RECOMMENDATIONS 1. In B.Ed. course along with regular programmes, seminars, workshops and symposium on awareness of computer can be conducted. 2. B.Ed. trainees can be trained to teach their lessons using PowerPoint presentations. 3. Teacher education training should familiarize the future teachers with various innovative methods and strategies to teach effectively. 4. Internet based teaching can be followed in B.Ed. colleges. SUGGESTIONS 1. The similar type of studies can be extended to other schools, colleges and universities exploring the same field of investigation. 2. Relationship between awareness of computer and academic achievement of the college students may be conducted. 3. A study of relationship between awareness of computer and teaching effectiveness of college professors may be conducted. 4. A study of relationship between awareness of computer and teaching effectiveness of secondary teacher education may be conducted.

CONCLUSION From the above study, we conclude awareness of computer among B.Ed., trainees is moderate. By giving computer related trainings we can improve their efficiency

BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS
1. 2. 3. Aggarwal J.C. Aggarwal Y.P. John.W.Best and James V.Khan (1986) (2002) (2004) Educational Research, Arya Book Depot, New Delhi. Statistical Methods, Concepts, Application and Computation, Arya Book Depot, New Delhi. Research in Education, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi.

WEBLIOGRAPHY www.eric.com www.educaiton.world.com www.research.thesis.com