Date of Award
5-1994
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the status of classroom computer use in undergraduate business communication courses in institutions of higher education in the Upper Midwest and to identify factors related to computer use in these classrooms. The study explored classroom computer use; computer-mediated communication applications; faculty's computer experience and skills, resource availability, and perceptions of effectiveness of computer use; and factors related to computer use in business communication courses. Findings of the study were compared with selected policy statements developed by the Policies Commission for Business and Economic Education.
A survey instrument developed by the researcher was mailed to 50 undergraduate business communication faculty at 31 institutions of higher education in the Upper Midwest. There was a 93% return rate. Data were analyzed using SPSS-X statistical software, and analysis included descriptive statistics, cross tabulations, and one-way analysis of variance.
Conclusions drawn from this study include that current classroom computer use is inadequate for preparing today's students for future careers and that many business communication faculty are not aware of the status of classroom computer use. Students have adequate computer knowledge and skills and enjoy using computers in the classroom, but many do not have the opportunity to use computers during the business communication class period. When computers are used in the business communication classroom, they are not used for the latest computer-mediated communication activities but primarily for word processing. Computer lab availability for business communication classroom use is inadequate. Finally, a comparison of this study's findings to the policy statements determined that undergraduate business communication faculty are not addressing the standards set by the Policies Commission for Business and Economic Education concerning the use of computers
Recommended Citation
Cresap, Linda M., "Classroom computer usage in undergraduate business communication courses in the upper midwest" (1994). Theses and Dissertations. 7407.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/7407