Assessing the computer laboratory learning environments in relation to the students’ attitudes towards computers

Computers have been used in higher education for over thirty years both as a subject of study and as a tool to assist in the learning process within other disciplines. In fact, computer laboratory classes have played a major role in the teaching of computing subjects in schools and colleges. Despite the perceived importance of laboratory classes little research has been done on computer laboratory learning environments in India. This study presents an assessment of the computer laboratory learning environments and students’ attitudes towards computer and computer courses. This study employed two questionnaires to provide quantitative data i.e. The Computer Laboratory Environment Inventory (CLEI) and The Attitude Towards Computer and Computer Courses (ACCC) scale (Newby & Fisher, 1998). The sample consisted of 250 students taken from private secondary schools of Jammu. Preliminary analysis showed that CLEI and ACCC are valid and reliable instruments for assessing student’s perceptions about their computer laboratory learning environments. The students were also found to have positive perceptions about their computer laboratory learning environments. Regarding associations between student’s attitudes and perceptions of their computer laboratory environments, most scales of CLEI were statistically significant and positively associated with the four scales of the ACCC. No gender differences in perceptions of computer laboratory learning environments have been observed in this study.