Measuring Technology Acceptance level of Turkish pre-service English teachers by using technology acceptance Model

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate technology acceptance of prospective English teachers by using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in Turkish context. The study is based on Structural Equation Model (SEM). The participants of the study from English Language Teaching Departments of Hacettepe, Gazi and BaAŸkent Universities. The participants are 213 pre-service English teachers. In order to collect data, Computer Attitude Scale (CAS), developed by Selwyn (1997), was used. As a first step in the study, prospective English teachers’ general attitudes towards technology were assessed. The results indicated that prospective English teachers had positive attitudes towards technology and technology use in lessons. As a next step, an ANOVA test was used to compare participants from different grade levels in terms of their attitudes towards technology use. The results indicated that first grade prospective English teachers have relatively lower levels of positive attitudes towards technology. Then, the model fit indices were calculated and the scale was subjected to factor analysis. As a result, the model that was constructed within the scope of the study was found to be perfect based on the results of a number of fit test indices and reasonable based on few fit test indices. Therefore, the model was found to be meaningful and usable. The results indicated that four of the hypotheses formed within the scope of the study were proven and one of them was rejected. Overall, it must be noted that there is a strong positive correlation between attitudes towards computer use and behavioral intention to use computers. Key words: Technology use, prospective English teachers, computer self-efficacy, TAM model.