The School of Information and Media, The FACULTY of MANAGEMENT

Teachers' ICT skills and knowledge needs
Final Report to SOEID
Appendix 1


Title Page and Acknowledgements
Contents
Executive Summary
The Way Forward - Recommendations
Section One
Introduction 		Section Two
The Study 		Section Three
Use of ICT in Scottish Schools 		Section Four
Problems
Challenges
Section Five
Attitudes, skills and training 		Section Six
Organisational culture 		Section Seven
The Way Forward 		Appendices
Bibliography
Previous Section Next Section




Appendix 1: Primary teacher questionnaire


Dear Colleague

The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department (SOEID) has commissioned this study to identify the needs and priorities of teachers in relation to the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). The study coincides with a number of initiatives such as the National Grid for Learning which aim to ensure that technology such as the Internet is used to its full advantage in supporting teaching and learning; and the proposal to use National Lottery funding to further develop teachers' ICT skills.

It is anticipated that the outcomes of this study will influence future policy and content of teacher education and, particularly, teacher continuing professional development. Ultimately it is hoped that the information gathered in this study will ensure that ICT is used effectively to enhance the teaching and learning experience of pupils in Scotland's schools.

Your support in this study is appreciated. By taking 20 minutes to complete this questionnaire you will help us identify the issues which teachers themselves consider important in making the best educational use of ICT. All responses will be treated in confidence and no individuals or schools will be named in our reporting of results.

A prepaid envelope is provided for your reply which should be returned by 10 December 1997. Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation in this project.

Dorothy Williams, The Robert Gordon University (Project Leader)

Phone: 01224-262956

Email: d.williams@rgu.ac.uk

Notes

For the purposes of this questionnaire we interpret ICT (Information and Communications Technology) to mean:

Any computer based and communication technologies, networked and stand alone, including both hardware and software, which can be used as teaching, learning and information resources.

We are interested in your experiences of ICT in different contexts. We have defined these as follows:

Classroom practice e.g using ICT to support your teaching in the classroom.

Professional development e.g. networking with other teachers; using software packages for developing professional skills.

Personal use e.g. finding information for personal interest; playing computer games.

Administration e.g. monitoring pupil progress; recording pupil grades.



YOUR USE OF ICT

We are interested in finding out your opinions of ICT. We would also like to know how you use ICT.

1. Do you use computers?

Yes (please go to Q2.) 98
No (please go to Q4.) <1

2. How often do you use the following ICT resources in each of the contexts - classroom practice, professional development, personal use, administration? (see notes opposite)

Please code as follows: D = Daily W = Weekly M = Monthly T = Termly N = Never

Classroom

Professional

Personal

Admin

D

W

M

T

D

W

M

T

D

W

M

T

D

W

M

T
Internet and World Wide Web (WWW)

<1

<1

<1

<1

<1

2

1

2

1

5

4

2

0

<1

<1

0
E-mail

1

<1

<1

<1

2

3

1

<1

3

4

2

2

2

1

<1

<1
Network computer conferencing (e.g. First Class)

<1

<1

0

1

<1

1

0

1

<1

<1

0

<1

<1

1

0

0
Video conferencing

0

1

<1

<1

0

<1

<1

1

0

<1

0

<1

0

<1

<1

0
Fax

<1

0

0

3

<1

1

2

2

<1

3

4

5

<1

1

<1

2
Word-processing

23

35

12

11

13

27

7

9

10

28

13

5

7

15

6

8
Databases

2

5

7

31

1

5

2

11

<1

4

5

9

2

3

4

6
Spreadsheets

1

4

5

22

<1

4

4

12

<1

5

7

9

1

3

3

9
Desk Top Publishing (DTP)

6

7

3

11

4

5

4

6

5

5

4

5

2

3

2

3
Digital camera

<1

<1

<1

3

0

0

<1

2

0

<1

<1

1

0

0

0

<1
Digital scanner

<1

<1

<1

2

0

1

<1

1

0

2

2

3

0

<1

<1

0
Educational software packages (externally produced)

5

29

5

12

7

13

6

10

6

13

5

7

3

4

1

1
Educational software packages (internally produced)

8

9

4

8

1

5

2

3

1

2

1

3

<1

1

0

2
CD-ROM information sources e.g. Encarta

9

18

9

14

2

8

5

9

3

10

7

9

<1

3

1

<1
On-line information sources e.g. BEI (British Education Index)

0

0

0

<1

<1

<1

<1

1

<1

1

<1

<1

0

0

<1

<1


3. Where do you generally use ICT resources? (please tick all that apply)

Classroom 95
Computer lab 3
Library 6
Home 55
Other (please state) 10

4. If you do not use a specific ICT resource in a classroom, professional development, or administrative context, please indicate why (please tick the appropriate boxes).
Not available at all Not accessible when needed Not familiar with Lack of skills Not appropriate Cost of buying/ using Lack of technical support Lack of time
Internet and WWW 67 1 13 9 5 7 3 4
E-mail 53 4 13 6 10 5 2 3
Network computer conferencing (e.g. First Class) 61 1 13 6 10 3 2 3
Video conferencing 63 1 12 6 11 3 2 2
Fax 46 2 11 5 18 3 <1 <1
Word-processing 1 1 13 13 10 0 2 6
Databases 3 1 13 13 10 0 2 6
Spreadsheets 3 <1 14 14 14 0 2 4
Desk Top Publishing (DTP) 17 <1 13 9 10 <1 1 6
Digital Camera 61 2 13 8 7 5 2 2
Digital scanner 59 2 14 9 6 4 2 2
Educational software packages (externally produced) 2 2 3 2 <1 3 <1 3
Educational software packages (internally produced) 30 1 5 3 2 <1 2 7
CD-ROM based information sources e.g. Encarta 12 5 8 4 5 2 1 3
On-line information sources e.g. BEI (British Education Index) 56 1 16 5 4 3 3 3

5. What do you think about ICT?

Whether you use ICT or not, we would like to know what you think about it. Please indicate whether or not you agree with each of the statements below by ticking the most appropriate box.
Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree
I'd like to know more about ICT 86 11 2
Computers scare me. 14 22 60
ICT helps me find heaps of relevant information for my teaching 38 43 16
I know the basics of ICT but that is all. 61 14 21
I've got information overload. 17 37 42
I use it effectively myself but I'm not sure how to teach the pupils to use it. 11 32 53
I don't know what I would do without it. 19 38 41
I manage information more effectively because of ICT. 24 39 42
I wish it had never been invented. 6 19 72
I find it helpful for non-work related tasks. 46 26 26
I find using ICT time consuming. 58 23 18
Some pupils are as scared as me. 7 25 65
It makes my work easier. 34 41 23
I prefer using it on my own when no-one is around to see me make mistakes. 26 27 46
ICT helps pupils acquire new knowledge effectively. 63 30 6
It cuts down my preparation time 16 29 53
It's all moving too fast for me. 40 33 26
I find it easy to select appropriate ICT resources for my teaching. 17 35 47
I can't cope with all the ICT jargon. 44 36 18
I feel supported in my use of ICT. 20 33 46
Pupils can get distracted by all the technology. 19 31 49
ICT helps me communicate with colleagues. 9 23 68
Systems are slow, I'd be quicker using a book. 17 46 35
I feel lost in the information age. 24 33 41
ICT encourages pupils to work together collaboratively 55 32 11
I can never find anything relevant for my pupils. 6 30 63
My current school has a positive attitude to ICT use. 67 26 6
I don't have the appropriate skills to use it effectively. 49 26 24
It seems to motivate the pupils to learn. 66 30 3
ICT swamps pupils with information. 7 44 47
The pupils are way ahead of me in their use of ICT. 32 40 27
.

6. In general has ICT had a positive or a negative impact on your teaching?

Positive 50
Negative 1
Mixed 40
Don't know 8

Please give examples

7. In general has ICT had a positive or a negative impact on your pupils' learning?

Positive 62
Negative 0
Mixed 28
Don't know 7

Please give examples



KEEPING UP-TO-DATE WITH ICT

8. How do you keep up to date with ICT developments? (Please tick all that you have used)

Other teachers 80
E-mail 6
Librarians 5
Conferences 5
Senior management 44
In-service 69
Computing department 17
Schools Library Service 3
Technician 4
Educational Resource Services 13
Educational Advisers 21
Teacher Education Institute 3
Professional journals 11
Scottish Council for Educational Technology (SCET) 13
Newsletters 9
Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum (Scottish CCC) 6
Research journals 2
National Council for Educational Technology (NCET) 1
Computing journals 17
Scottish Teacher Researcher Support Network (STRSN) <1
Internet 6
Publishers catalogues 22
World Wide Web 5

Other (please state)

9. If you use ICT, how would you describe your level of ICT competence in the following contexts? If you do not use ICT, please go to question 10.
Classroom practice Professional development Personal use Administration
Very competent 8 4 7 3
Competent 58 35 46 26
Not competent 25 37 29 32
Don't know 3 7 4 10



10. Have you ever received any ICT training?

Yes 83
No 13
Can't remember 1

If yes please give details of this training.

and a) anything that was useful about it

and b) anything that was not useful


11.

a). Are you interested in developing your skills and knowledge in ICT?

Yes 92
No 4

b) Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree
I am interested in learning more about using ICT. 94 2 3
I feel ICT training isn't appropriate to my teaching. 5 17 74
I find training courses in ICT useful. 68 25 3
I need to develop my skills and knowledge for professional development. 81 13 3
I feel I should develop my skills to keep up to date with developments in teaching. 86 8 4
I don't think I need ICT skills to progress in the profession. 5 19 73
I'm not that interested but I suppose I should be. 18 13 66
I need to develop my skills and knowledge for the pupils' benefit. 85 11 2
I don't see the need to learn about ICT. 2 6 90
I'm interested but don't have the time. 45 29 24
I'm interested but don't have access. 29 23 45
I don't need to use ICT in my teaching. 4 11 81
I really want to know more about developing my skills in ICT. 77 15 81
I am interested personally but developing my skills and knowledge in ICT isn't appropriate to my teaching. 3 15 5
I'm interested but training doesn't seem to be available. 35 33 29
I don't think it's necessary, no-one else in the school is bothering. <1 11 86
I would like to develop my skills and knowledge in ICT as everyone else is. 52 31 13
I feel my skills and knowledge in ICT are adequate. 11 20 65
ICT training isn't a priority for me. 19 34 43



12. What are your priorities for developing your skills and knowledge in ICT in each of the contexts below? Please list up to three in each context.
Classroom practice 1.

2.

3.
Professional development 1.

2.

3.
Personal use 1.

2.

3.
Administration 1.

2.

3

YOU AND YOUR TEACHING EXPERIENCE

13. How long have you been teaching (including probationary period)?

Less than 1 year 2
1-5 years 12
6-10 years 16
More than 10 years 70

14. Are you a:

Teacher? 69
Senior Teacher? 19
APT? 0
PT? 0
AHT? 3
Depute? 4
HT? 5

15. Would you describe your teaching experience as predominantly:

Full-time? 88
Part- time? 5
Supply? 2
Mixed? 4

16. What level(s) are you currently teaching? (Please tick all that apply)

P1 23
P2 25
P3 22
P4 22
P5 25
P6 30
P7 27

17. If you are a secondary teacher, what subjects are you currently teaching?

18. Which of the following educational qualifications do you have?

College DipEd 58
Med 1
Mphil 0
BEd 25
PGCE 13
PhD 0
BA, BSc, MA 16
MSc <1

Other (please state)

19. Where did you undertake your initial teacher training?

Paisley University - Craigie College of Education 9
Moray House Institute of Education 19
Northern College of Education 19
St. Andrew's College 9
Strathclyde University - Jordanhill College of Education 24
Stirling University <1
Other Teacher Education Institute (please specify) 10

20. How many schools have you previously taught in?

0 14
1 14
2 21
3 12
4 or more 38

21. How would you describe these schools? (please tick all that apply)

Rural 40
Town 65
City 33
Island 2

22. What is the location of your current school?

Rural 29
Town 51
City 17
Island 2

23. What is the approximate roll of your current school?

120 or less 23
121-300 40
301-600 34
601-1000 2
More than 1000 0

24. Are you:

Male ? 6
Female? 93

25. Which age group do you belong to?

20-30 16
31-40 21
41-50 47
51-60 15
61<1



OTHER COMMENTS

26. Please use this space for any additional comments (e.g. what you feel would encourage your use of ICT in the classroom; anything you feel discourages you from using ICT)

We will be following up this survey with in-depth interviews looking further at teachers' experience of ICT and what teachers perceive to be the important issues. If necessary would you be prepared to take part in these interviews? If so, please tick the box below, providing your name, current school and telephone number.

q I am interested in taking part in the interviews.

Name:

School:

Telephone number (work):

E-mail:

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Please remember to return this questionnaire by 10 December 1997, in the reply-paid envelope provided.

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