A tecnologia da informação e comunicação (TIC) tem se tornado cada vez mais comum no cotidiano da sociedade atual. Diversas são as facilidades disponibilizadas para os indivíduos habilitados no uso da TIC. Entretanto, estar habilitado em TIC não corresponde apenas a aspectos de conforto; a falta dessa habilitação restringe oportunidades importantes. Destaca-se a relevância deste conhecimento no ambiente acadêmico, no qual os alunos são constantemente chamados à execução de atividades apoiadas por computadores e aplicativos. Para ingressar no mercado de trabalho, nas mais diversas áreas de atuação, tem-se exigido o prévio preparo relacionado aos conhecimentos e habilidades sobre a TIC. Felizmente, os dispositivos de TIC têm se tornado cada vez mais acessíveis à população em geral, e os aplicativos também têm oferecido usabilidade cada vez mais intuitiva. Ainda assim, constata-se que a autoaprendizagem sobre TIC é restrita a alguns aspectos específicos, e ainda considerada insuficiente para um preparo minimamente adequado. Como agravante, as ações de incorporação da TIC no ensino público brasileiro ainda são malsucedidas. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo principal a definição de critérios para avaliação da Alfabetização Computacional (AC), correspondente à identificação do conjunto relevante de conhecimentos e habilidades de TIC, aplicada a alunos do ensino médio. Para atender a esse objetivo, os principais aspectos da AC foram extraídos da literatura por meio de uma revisão sistemática, e submetidos à análise de especialistas pela aplicação da Técnica Delphi. Os aspectos de TIC identificados como mais relevantes pelos especialistas para AC são: ética, ferramentas de busca, privacidade, segurança e vírus. Em complemento, este estudo também visa descrever como as instituições de ensino médio e as empresas avaliam a relevância dos conhecimentos e habilidades de AC. Os dados coletados possibilitaram uma análise comparativa de pontos de vista distintos dos docentes, pesquisadores e empresas sobre o tema. Concluiu-se que a conectividade corresponde ao elemento central da AC na atualidade, com base no conjunto de aspectos classificados como mais relevantes pela metodologia de pesquisa aplicada. / Information and communication technology (ICT) has become increasingly common in the daily life of today\'s society. Many conveniences are made available to all individuals by using ICT. However, knowledge of ICT does not refer only to aspects of comfort; the lack of this competence restricts important opportunities. Noteworthy is the great importance of this knowledge in the academic environment, in which students are constantly required to perform activities supported by computers and applications. In order to enter the job market, in several areas, prior preparation related to knowledge and skills on ICT is required. Fortunately, ICT devices have become increasingly accessible to the population in general, and applications have also been offering increasingly intuitive usability. Still, it appears that ICT self-learning is restricted to some specific aspects, and considered insufficient for a minimally adequate preparation. To make matters worse, the learning of ICT in Brazilian public schools is still insufficient. This dissertation aims at defining some criteria for assessing Computer Literacy (CL), corresponding to an identification of the relevant body of knowledge regarding ICT skills, to be applied to high school students. In order to meet this goal, the main aspects of CL were extracted from literature by a systematic review, and submitted to expert analysis by Delphi Technique. The aspects of ICT identified as the most important ones by experts at CL are: ethics, search engines, privacy, security and viruses. In addition, this study also aims at describing how high school institutions and companies evaluate the relevance of CL knowledge and skills. The collected data has allowed a comparative analysis of different points of view of teachers, researchers and companies on the subject. We have concluded that connectivity represents the central element of CL nowadays, based on the set of issues classified as the most relevant by the research methodology.

A thesis submitted to the Wits School of Education, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2017 / This thesis reports on the first year pre-service teaching students’ development of digital competence at a South African university in 2013 and 2014. The aim of the study was to investigate the students’ levels of digital competence as they commenced their first year of study. I also examined the barriers and enablers, as identified in the literature, and their impact on the students’ successful engagement with Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). In addition to this, the possible influence of computer attitude and a belief in one’s own ability (self-efficacy) supplement the research findings in this area. I present quantitative and qualitative data that explore the students’ digital competence levels and their understanding of what it means to be digitally literate. A definition particular to this group of students is proposed. In their definition of digital competence, the majority of the first year pre-service teaching students perceived digital competence to be a functional skill. This is the ability to operate digital devices and their relevant applications in the quest to learn and become self-reliant. This definition is aligned to Covello’s (2010) description of an understanding of how to use computers and application software for practical purposes. This ability to functionally operate various devices (FutureLab, 2010), the ability to use computers and other technology to improve learning, productivity and performance (JISC and Mc Hardy, 2013), links to one part of Ferrari’s (2012) digital competence definition as the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and awareness required when using ICTs and digital media. After completing a baseline digital competence test as they entered the HEI, I found that 43% of the first year pre-service teaching students failed the test. I identified three main factors that impacted negatively on a first year pre-service teaching student’s engagement with ICTs and ultimate development of digital competence. These include inexperience with ICTs, access and user-unfriendliness of software. Four main enablers to the effective use of ICTs include previous experience using ICTs, previous and current access to ICTs, userfriendliness of software, and finally, support in the form of support material or people. Using quantitative findings obtained from the completion of the Loyd and Gressard Computer Attitude Scale (CAS), I ascertained the students’ computer attitudes. Through the application of the Murphy’s (1989) Digital Self-Efficacy test, the current levels of the students’ digital self-efficacy (DSE), or beliefs in their own abilities, were established. I found no correlation between computer attitude and a student’s digital competence. The majority of students who failed the baseline test had a positive computer attitude. I also found the majority of students surveyed had a strong or very strong belief in their own ability. The majority of the students who passed the test had a very strong DSE and the majority of students who failed had an average to strong DSE. Students who passed the test tended to have higher DSE levels than students who failed the baseline test. A strong belief in one’s own ability was found to be a strong determiner in learning to become digitally competent. A unique application of Actor Network Theory was employed in the data analysis. The analysis methodology was informed by an adaption of Barab, Hay and Yamagata-Lynch’s (2001) node components. The use of Actor Network Theory as an analytical lens in the data analysis, confirmed the importance of zooming in on and unpacking a student’s network of learning to better understand the hidden processes at work. Through an analysis of six students’ networks of learning, I found that each student’s learning network was unique. Using actor network theory to scaffold my analysis it became apparent the differences in the students’ learning networks told a more important story than the few commonalities. The only commonalities evident between the six students in the moment I unpacked each learning network were that they were both initiators and participant in their networks. They interacted with digital devices and were not first time ICT users. These commonalities seem quite immaterial when compared to a minimum of 16 differences. A few of the identified differences include the digital resources the students relied on, their computer attitudes, levels of digital self-efficacy and their baseline test results. My study contributes to knowledge in four ways. Firstly, I establish the digital competence skills of first year pre-service teaching students. Secondly, I identify the barriers first year pre-service students encountered when using ICTs. Thirdly, I look at the possible impact of computer attitude and digital self-efficacy on the development of digital competence. Finally, I detail the networks of learning to be digitally competent. Through this expansion of students’ networks of learning, the connections between the various nodes and actants at work become apparent. This gives readers insight into what nodes are at play within these networks and what the pre-service teaching students identify as significant in their learning. In this study, I confirm the necessity for a first year digital competence or ICT course. My study shows that the students entered the HEI with low levels of digital competence and encounter multiple barriers when accessing ICTs. While literature suggests computer attitude impacts on the development of digital competence, in the reality of my study, I found digital self-efficacy to have a higher statistical correlation with digital success. Studies such as mine provide detailed descriptions and analyses of the practice of coming to be digitally competent. The identification of, and investigation into the possible factors impacting on a pre-service teaching student’s development of digital competence better assists Higher Education Institutions and course designers alleviate possible barriers, while increasing enablers. / XL2018

The concept of literacy has expanded to include understanding and effective utilization of information, media, and technology. The Children's Internet Protection Act requires school districts to teach proper online use and behavior. The lack of a technology requirement in a rural, public school district in Northeastern Pennsylvania that meets the needs of 21st century learners and the conditions of the Children's Internet Protection Act was the rationale for the development of this project study. The study's conceptual framework stemmed from theories related to new literacies, multimodality, computer education practices, and millennial learners. The research questions examined educators' perceptions of topics and skills to include in a curricular framework that addressed the lack of a comprehensive technology requirement to improve 21st century digital literacy skills for all students. A qualitative case study design was selected and data from 40 open ended questionnaires, one 5-member focus group discussion, and two 6-member focus group discussions were open coded and thematically analyzed. Emergent themes relating to a digital literacy course framework included information access skills and the application of technology. Findings were validated through member checking and triangulated with 62 existing curricular documents. The project for this study consisted of a curricular framework for a 90 day 21st century digital literacy high school course that can be used by any school district to enhance the preparation of students for life after high school. Such use of the findings and culminating project may positively affect social change through a modern definition of literacy thus contributing towards the development of a positive and prepared 21st century citizenry.

Background: Computers are everywhere around us today and skills must be acquired in order for a person to use them. However, the topic of computer literacy is not researched enough to specify basic computer skills to consider an individual computer literate. This thesis will contribute to the research gap by investigating the computer skills of the workforce in the IT sector. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine the connection between computer programming and cyber security skills of the IT professional, e.g. is there a beneficial factor of this connection. Method: For this study the quantitative research method was used to gather data. The authors decided that the best way to reach their target group and answer the research questions was to conduct a survey and pose questions on the topics of computer literacy and cyber security. Conclusion: The results show that there is a statistical significance between the user’s security habits and his or her programming skills (or the absence of them). People who write code, defined as programmers, scored better on security skills survey, whereas their counterparts, the non-programmers, have some knowledge on the topic but they can never be absolutely sure of their cyber safety in the fast changing world of IT.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between computer attitudes held by tertiary students and the selected variables of gender, age and previous computer experience. It was hypothesized that no statistically significant differences would be found within the relationships tested. A questionnaire comprising the Computer Attitude Scale (CAS), demographic and other questions was administered to the population enrolled in an introductory computer unit at the University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory in Semester 1, 1992. The results were subjected to t-test and one-way analysis of variance testing. Statistically significant findings were noted between both gender and computer anxiety, and gender and computer confidence, with female students being more anxious and male students being more confident. Students with previous computer experience were found to be significantly less anxious and more confident with computers. More research on possible causes of these relationships and ways of overcoming computer anxiety is needed before the findings can be fully implemented.

This study researched the effect of a basic computer course on the comfort level with computers and Internet on 17 Spanish-speaking, non-computer literate adults. It also identified any increase of the participants’ integration of computers and Internet into employment related activities. Five male and twelve female Hispanic adults completed a four-day basic computer literacy training course. Data collected through pre and post content exams; pre, post, and follow-up comfort and use surveys, and attendance records at the training center showed positive results. The short-term training course was effective in reducing participants’ fears about using a computer. The training course also proved effective in stimulating the participants to utilize computers and Internet for personal and/or professional benefit. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Wichita State University, College of Education, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction. / "May 2006." / Includes bibliographic references (leaves 40-43).

Abstract The aim of this study is first to present the current situation in computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety, computer coping strategy and computer literacy in elementary and junior high school teachers, then to observe the variance resulting from teachers having different backgrounds, and finally to explore the relationships among the four factors. The subjects in this study are 452 elementary and junior high school teachers from Taipei city/county and Kaohsiung city/county, including 318 female and 134 male teachers. ¡§Computer literacy scale,¡¨ ¡§computer self-efficacy scale,¡¨ ¡§computer coping strategy scale,¡¨ and ¡§computer anxiety scale¡¨ are adopted as methods of analysis in this study. Data analysis are carried out by mean, standard deviation, t-test, Hotelling¡¦s , one-way ANOVA, multivariate analysis of variance, stepwise multiple regression, correlation and discriminant analysis. The findings can be summarized as follows: 1.In terms of the variables: personal background, factors of gender, age, degree(s) achieved, field of study, availability of computers, frequency and amount of computer use per week, and out-dated computer hardware tend to make subjects experience high computer anxiety and/or low computer self-efficacy. For example, an experienced female teacher with a B.A. degree in history had little contact with computers leading her to become anxious about computer use and poor on computer self-efficacy. 2.As for performance in computer coping strategy and computer literacy; they are related to teachers¡¦ competence in computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety. Teachers with high computer anxiety tend to show frequent avoidance of computer use and poor coping strategies in problem solving, support seeking, and self-adjustment, and a shallow understanding of computers and computer-assisted instruction. 3.The dominance of computer coping strategy and computer literacy over the degree of computer anxiety and computer self-efficacy can be validated with the validity of 60% above. 4.For elementary and junior high school teachers, their computer anxiety, computer self-efficacy, and computer coping strategy are significantly related to their computer literacy. 5.Teachers¡¦ computer self-efficacy, and computer coping strategy in solving problems and seeking support are implications for performance in computer literacy. Based on the conclusion of this study, some suggestions are made for future study: In terms of teachers¡¦ computer competence 1.Familiarity with computers can reduce teachers¡¦ computer anxiety 2.Positive experiences in computer use will enhance teachers¡¦ computer self-efficacy 3.Proper guidance given to teachers aids their computer coping strategy 4.Assistance provided builds teachers¡¦ confidence and application ability in computer-based instruction. 5.Requirements of teachers can be satisfied with related computer conferences and workshops. Regarding future study 1.Scope of subjects can be enlarged. 2.Variables in computer competence and performance can be added. 3.Tools of analysis can be improved. 4.Quantity and quality of the methodology should carry the same weight.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2001. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-190). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Institutions of higher learning across the United States are experiencing an aging faculty population. A significant proportion of college and university faculty are over 55, a growth expected to continue in future years. Parallel to this growth and change has been an expanding use of technology in higher education. Despite this trend and potential implications, few studies have provided in-depth insight into older faculty and technology. The study used a quantitative descriptive design to provide a comprehensive look at older community college faculty and various aspects of technology. Areas examined included older faculty's perceptions of technology, their attitudes toward institutional technology support and professional development, and their self-reported use of technology. Further, the study determined if older faculty reported existence of barriers preventing technology use and explored perceived technology and technology related needs. A 120-item questionnaire and cover letter was mailed to full-time faculty at five Florida community colleges. Respondents included 246 full-time faculty members; older faculty (age 55 and over) comprised 40.7% of the population sample. Descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were employed for data analysis. Overall technology use among older faculty was slightly less than younger faculty; older faculty were no less likely than younger respondents to use technology. Both age groups used similar technologies and reported equivalent degrees of perceived skill with those technologies. Despite similarities in perceived technology use, older faculty considered technology a minor source of stress. Younger and older faculty were positive about their institution's support services and expressed similar technology related needs, including additional professional development and classrooms equipped with Internet/network access, audio/visual technologies, instructor computer stations, and multi-media projection capabilities. Principally, the technological divide between younger and older faculty seems less striking than some have previously contended. Technology use and proficiency appear to vary widely across age groups. Older and younger respondents also had positive perceptions of technology. Findings suggest community colleges are serving adequately the technology needs of faculty. Recommendations for future research include broadening the population of community college faculty and exploring technology use among older four-year and university faculty.

Pastaruoju metu Lietuvoje vis daugiau dėmesio skiriama kompiuterinio raštingumo svarbai ugdant informacinę visuomenę. Kompiuterinis raštingumas daro didelę įtaką įprastam raštingumui, rašto kultūrai, todėl darosi svarbu kompiuterinį raštingumą apžvelgti lituanistiniu aspektu. Bakalauro darbe aptariamos kompiuterinio raštingumo reikalavimų gairės, apibendrinami formalieji kompiuteriu spausdinamo teksto reikalavimai. Darbe analizuojami Šakynos pagrindinės mokyklos administracijos ir mokinių spausdinti tekstai, mokyklos internetiniame puslapyje esanti spausdinta informacija. Tekstai palyginti su kitų Šiaulių rajono pagrindinių mokyklų analogiškais tekstais. Kokybine anketų analize siekiama išsiaiškinti Šiaulių rajono pagrindinių mokyklų mokytojų požiūrį į kompiuterinį raštingumą mokyklose. Atlikus analizę daromos išvados, kad Šakynos mokyklos mokiniai ir visos Šiaulių rajono pagrindinės mokyklos daro nemažai klaidų tekstus rašant kompiuteriu, daugiausiai daroma rašybos ir skyrybos klaidų. Mokytojai teigia žinantys kompiuterinio raštingumo reikalavimus, tačiau iš mokinių atitinkamo raštingumo nereikalauja. / Recently, Lithuania is increasingly focused on the importance of computer literacy in developing the information society. Computer literacy has a significant impact on the normal literacy, written culture, so it becomes important to overview computer literacy from the aspect of Lithuanian-language. This bachelor thesis deals with the computer literacy guidelines and formal requirements for the computer printed text. The paper analyzes the texts of administration and students of Šakyna basic school and information of the school website. The quality of the texts is comparable with adequate texts of other basic schools of Šiauliai district. Qualitative analysis of the questionnaire is designed to ascertain teachers', from basic schools in Šiauliai district, attitude to computer literacy in education. The analysis concludes that students of Šakyna school and all other basic schools of Šiauliai district have a number of errors in the texts when writing a computer. Spelling and punctuation are the main errors. The teachers say they know the requirements of the computer literacy, but still they do not demand students’ competent literacy.