Adoption and utilization of microcomputers by Kentucky vocational home economics teacher

The purpose of this study was to develop information which would be helpful to administrators and educators in home economics in making plans to further the adoption and utilization of microcomputers in vocational home economics programs.;A questionnaire developed by the researcher was sent to a random sample of 250 Kentucky vocational home economics teachers. A response of 180 or 72 percent was obtained during the spring semester 1986.;The questionnaire was designed to obtain data from the teachers relative to (1) microcomputers and microcomputer utilization, (2) individual teacher characteristics, and (3) school and home economics program characteristics. Frequencies and percentages were reported to describe the status of microcomputers within vocational home economics programs. The hypotheses were tested using the chi-square test of significance.;Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that: (1) Given the time frame of microcomputer availability (since 1975), adoption by vocational home economics teachers has been a more recent event as exemplified by the fact that no teacher reported extensive use prior to 1982. (2) Most subject areas within home economics are adaptable for microcomputer teaching. (3) Adopters used the microcomputer for computer assisted instruction and computer managed instruction, with more teachers reporting use for computer managed instruction. (4) Personal characteristics of teachers were not good indicators of adoption of microcomputers for educational purposes. (5) Adopters of microcomputers had received more microcomputer training and perceived their training as adequate for educational purposes. (6) School and program characteristics were not good predictors of home economics teachers' adoption of microcomputers. (7) Financial resources were strongly related to the adoption of microcomputers. The nonadopters were three times more likely to report funding as a major problem related to microcomputer adoption. (8) Administrative support played a vital role in the adoption of microcomputers by vocational home economics teachers. (9) Microcomputer adoption was more likely to occur when microcomputers were available within the home economics department. (10) Teachers in multi-teacher departments were more likely to be adopters of microcomputers.