Computer Attitudes and Literacy Assessment: Are Tomorrow's Business Teachers Prepared?

This study assessed the computer attitudes and computer literacy levels of future business teachers. Data were collected from 83 (approximately 92%) of the prospective business teachers enrolled in a teaching methods course at Missouri's public 4-year universities or colleges during the Spring 1990 semester. The Computer Attitude Scale (CAS) was used to assess subjects' levels of computer anxiety and computer liking, attitudes toward the use of computers in education, and attitudes toward computers as a tool for teachers. The Standardized Test of Computer Literacy (STCL) was used to assess subjects' levels of computer literacy in terms of two variables, computer systems and computer applications. Subjects' computer attitudes were found to be positive. All attitude means were at least 80% of the maximum possible scores. Subjects' computer literacy mean scores, however, were only slightly more than 50% of the maximum possible scores. Recommendations for business teacher education programs are included in the article.