Professional success of every person in his profession relies mainly on his up-to-date professional knowledge, complete devotion and dedication along with his efficacy and effectiveness. In the present day world with advancement in technology these qualities can be inducted through adaptation of ethics and self updation with technological changes. Yet technological adaptation is considered to be costly by some people, In this regard Education Commission remarked that 'Investment in teacher education can yield very rich dividends because the financial resources required are small when measured against the resulting improvements in the education of millions.'
Department of School Education & Literacy is responsible for development of school education and literacy in the country. The department works for the basic aim of 'universalisation of education' and enhancing the quality of education. The Dept of School Education & Literacy has its goal set on the 'universalisation of education' and making better citizens out of our young generation. Considering the 'universalisation of education' as main goal, various new programmes, schemes and initiatives are introduced regularly. Recently those schemes and initiatives have also started paying dividends in the form of growing enrolment in schools. During the Financial Year 2011-12, Central government has taken some decisions, the Central Government of India has allocated Rs 389.57 billion for the Department of School Education and Literacy. This allocation includes, major share of Rs 210 billion, is for the flagship programme 'Sarva Siksha Abhiyan'. The main purpose of this higher allocation is required to implement the recent legislation 'Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. As the need of time requires the quality of education that is recommended by RTE-2009
RTE-2009 has been implemented in Gujarat since 1-4-2010. Considering the recommendations of RTE-2009, Gujarat Council of Elementary Education (GCEE), SSA Mission, Education Department, Govt. of Gujarat (GoG)1 has implemented Computer Aided Learning in 14856 Primary Schools of Gujarat. The CAL has become operational since 9-8-2011. The basic purpose of this huge investment was to retain the students in the school and improve the quality of education. In this project, selected agencies has provided computer hardware, operating system software & other application software and connected accessories in schools and also provided manpower services including training of teachers in Primary schools in Gujarat. One full time school coordinator has been provided by agencies, who is well conversed with open source operating system. The contract has some timeline fixed in it like the Co-ordinator has to work for first nine(9) months (one year excluding the months of April, May and June) from the date of completion of installation & commissioning of hardware or completion of training of the school teachers or completion of deployment of manpower whichever is later. The School co-ordinator is expected to train the teachers and make them use the computer independently without other's support during the contract period. It is also expected from school co-ordinator to maintain the computer lab and sort out some basic computer related problems.
The Computer Aided Learning Program (CAL) has created supportive climate, where teaching, learning and evaluation is fun and the opportunities to learn is equally same for rural as well as urban children. The CAL is primarily introduced in rural government elementary schools covering the classes 1 to 8 to attract and retain children and also in the process, enhance the quality of learning by making 'Learning Play', 'Assessment Fun' and 'Equal knowledge for all'. The core purpose of the CAL programme is to attract the children, retain them in the schools and to improve the quality of the education through animated multimedia, animated lesson plans, and computer based e-content.
In the 12th five year plan (2012-2017)1 it is suggested that 'A programme for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in elementary education will replace the erstwhile Computer Aided Learning (CAL) under SSA. This would include the provision of networked computers, accessories and an Internet connection in a phased manner. A variety of software tools and pedagogical appropriate e-content in local language will be sourced or developed to serve the school curriculum.
The focus will be to enable students and teachers to access wide variety of resources available in the digital format, and digital resources that are seamlessly integrated in classroom processes. Efforts will be made to adopt energy-efficient, cost-effective ICT soulutions , which increase the number of access points in each school enabling more and more children to use the facility more frequently. Appropriate mechanism to maintain the infrastructure and protect it from breakdowns will be ensured. ICT should also be used to network teachers and schools in specific geography ' this would enhance collaborative teaching and learning. The RTE act mandates provision of laboratory and library facilities in schools. SSA funding would be made available for this purpose particularly to cater to children from the disadvantaged group.'
Looking at the government policy and government's expectation towards primary education the importance of computer literacy is one of the key point in current scenario of education. With rapidly changing status of primary schools and availability of resources made it impossible to find an educational institute that does not use computers. Computers are becoming essential in every sphere of educational climate. It helps at the both ends to enhance the quality of education, for students as a learning tool and for teachers as record keeper as well as information centre. Computers allow teachers and students to access the necessary information more quickly and feasibly. It works as information provider at hand for twenty four hours. Students can use the computer as support instructor to enhance the quality of their learning, where as its boon for the teachers to prepare effective lesson plans, projects and support materials. Computer helps teachers to prepare and implement various software programs to carry out timely tests at schools.
The importance of training at primary school level is being increased day after day. As a part of implementation of various educational policies and interventions primary school teachers are receiving good numbers of in-service training experience in the State of Gujarat. Government of Gujarat has been focusing on the quality of teacher training since many years. Training on various subjects and professional development are being carried out by various training councils, institutes and agencies. Yet a need of concentrating on quality aspects by using digital technology at primary level was felt from the opinions of teachers. Taking these requirement in notice , The Government of Gujarat has provided eleven computers per school since the project started in 2011, so almost schools are now equipped with computers. Ever since the use of computers at primary schools is noticeably increased. The most numbers of newly recruited primary school teachers are computer literate, yet older teachers are being trained by government. In order to get the 9 year's higher grade, it is made compulsory for the primary school teachers to complete the CCC course and to get even the full pay scale its made mandatory for them.
Thus it was found that studies for assessing the level of computer literacy of primary school teachers are very few in Gujarat. After many policies' implementation and efforts made by Government, it is very important to study the level of computer literacy of primary school teachers. Researcher has assessed the literacy of primary school teachers by deciding the levels like Basic, Intermediate, and proficient. The present research will pave the light for planning effective in-service training programs as well as current technological needs of primary teachers with the reference of literacy.
Computer Literacy :
Computer literacy is the ability to use computers and related technology effectively and efficiently, with a range of skills covering levels from basic use to intermediate and proficient. Computer literacy is considered to be some achieved levels. Computer literacy is the term that concludes, the concepts, terminology and operations related to common computer use. The core concept of computer literacy covers the some basic operations to proficient operations. Computer literacy can also refer to the comfort level someone has with using computer applications and other programs that are basically related with computers. Beside that the most important part is understanding how computers work and operate. Computer literacy is different from computer programming. Computer programs are designed and coded with higher level of technical skills and computer languages.
There is no precise consensus on how to define computer literacy. The term can mean different things to different people. Since the respondents of this study are Primary School Teachers, the technical definitions may not be appropriate. After a careful search in literature, it was understood that the computer literacy is defined with three types of skills: basic, intermediate, and proficient. Basic, intermediate and proficient skills are being able to use basic operating system functions, word processor, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, databases, Internet, and e-mail and some applications.
Hence, a person will be considered 'computer literate' if he/she possesses mentioned skills
1.2 TITLE OF THE STUDY
Assessing The Level of Computer Literacy of Government Primary School Teachers of Surendranagar District
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1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Before taking up any kind of research, the selection of the study subject becomes an essential element for a researcher. It becomes necessary for researcher to examine its different aspects like expert's suggestions, study of previous studies as well as a detailed study of various reference books. After examining such points the researcher prepares a design of study field in his mind. Before conducting this study, to select a subject of his choice, the researcher during his library work decided to select a subject regarding attitude keeping in mind different aspects of this study. For this, according to the suggestion of a guide, the researcher has studied the previously conducted researches of the level that includes M.Ed. and Ph.D. Besides, the study of educational and related articles of national and international journals was made and after consulting different subject experts, the subject for more study was selected. Finally, after discussions with guide the title of the subject of study was finalized as under :
'Assessing The Level of Computer Literacy of Government Primary School Teachers of Surendranagar District'
In this study, Computer literacy test was created and standardized to access the level of computer literacy of primary school teachers of Surendranagar District that included three different levels like basic, intermediate and proficient. whether the gender and teaching experience do effect the level of computer literacy or not was also tested. The research was done by survey method. 'Computer Literacy Test' was created and standardized to access the level of computer literacy amongst primary school teachers.
1.4 OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE TERMS
The researcher gives the meaning of variables covered in the study and main terms in terms of their measurement. This is called operational definition of terms. Certain terms used in this study were arranged by the researcher in terms of the measurement of the study work.
1.4.1 Assessment
The definition of 'assessment' may be varied in many ways by different individuals or institutions with different objectives.
According to Fenton (1996), "Assessment is the collection of relevant information that may be relied on for making decisions.
According to Palomba, C.A. & Banta, T.W., "Assessment is the systematic collection, review, and use of information about educational programs undertaken for the purpose of improving learning and development.
According to Upcraft & Schuh, (1996), Assessment is any effort to gather, analyze, and interpret evidence which describes institutional, departmental, divisional, or agency effectiveness.
According to marriam Webster dictionary , Assessment is an idea or opinion about something.
According to Cambridge Dictionary, Assessment is the act of judging or deciding the amount, value, quality, or importance of something, or the judgment or decision that is made.
In the present study, 'assessment' means the assessment of the responses obtained from primary school teachers of Surendranagar district in the context of basic, intermediate and proficient level skill questions asked in computer literacy test.
1.4.2 Computer literacy
There is no precise consensus on how to define computer literacy. Literacy means quality of state of being literate. The term can mean different things to different people. In general sense computer literacy is the knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently and effectively. A person that has the ability to operate a computer and understands the language used in working with a specific system is said to be computer literate
According to Wikipedia, Computer literacy is the ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with a range of skills covering levels from elementary use to programming and advanced problem solving.
According to Oluwatayo (2012), Computer literacy in terms of the amount of knowledge and skills acquired by an individual to perform a given task using a computer system
According to FOLDOC (Free Online Dictionary of Computing), Computer literacy is an understanding of the concepts, terminology and operations that relate to general computer use. It is the essential knowledge needed to function independently with a computer. This functionality includes being able to solve and avoid problems, adapt to new situations, keep information organized and communicate effectively with other computer literate people.
In the present study, Computer literacy means total of the score obtained by teachers in computer literacy test.