High school students’ perception of computer laboratory learning environments in Ghana

Abstract

This study focused on senior high school students’ perception of their computer laboratory learning environment and how the use of computers affects their learning in urban and community senior high schools. Data was obtained with the Computer Laboratory Environment Inventory questionnaire, administered to 278 second year senior high school students. The data was analyzed using SPSS to find how frequent students experience a particular factor that affect them when in the computer laboratory and also the difference in how male and female students perceive their computer laboratory learning environment as measured using the t-test. Four factors, supply material environment, integration, supervision and reliable material environment, were found to influence students’ perception of their computer laboratory environment. The findings revealed that students’ general perception of their computer laboratory environments in both school types were positive but significantly different in favour of those in urban schools. The findings suggest that serious efforts must be made by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to improve the material environment, particularly, in Community schools.