Use of microcomputers in physics courses in normal universities and teachers' colleges in Taiwan, R.O.C

This study investigated the current level of microcomputer application to general physics and electricity and magnetism courses of normal schools in Taiwan, R.O.C. Questions elicited responses from students and instructors regarding their use of microcomputers for work and study, e.g., their ability to use a computer and the amount of time spent, as well as the kinds of computer assisted instruction and the computer language(s) used. Students were also asked to report the number of credit hours they had earned in computer courses.;Other purposes were to determine the number of credit hours students had earned in computer courses and examine the attitudes of instructors and students toward the adequacy of the number and condition of currently owned microcomputers in the physics departments.;The sample consisted of (1) students enrolled in general physics courses, (2) students enrolled in electricity and magnetism courses (a total of 792 students), and (3) instructors for these courses (n = 28). The number of usable questionnaires returned for analysis was 710 (89.6 percent) form students and 28 (100 percent) from instructors.;A factor analysis was computed on data from students' questionnaires. The five factors identified were: (1) appropriate computer use; (2) comfortable with computer; (3) computer competency; (4) social/physiological concerns; and (5) potential impact of computer on science learning. These five factors were used as dependent variables in a multivariate analysis of variance, and significant differences were found: (1) between school type for attitude toward computers, computer experience, general perception, and perception of knowledge and learning; and (2) between gender for computer experience. Other findings were that 28.6 percent of the instructors use microcomputers in their instructional activities, a high percentage of normal school students in Taiwan do not use microcomputers in their physics courses, students generally agreed that microcomputer use should increase (60 percent indicated that current use was insufficient for learning and studying), and the quantity of microcomputers and the amount of computer training are inadequate for students' needs.;Recommendations are that administrative action be taken to (1) plan and implement training programs for both students and instructors, (2) modify physics teaching methods to include the use of computers, and (3) direct funds toward the purchase of microcomputers, printers and peripherals.