Utility of Computer Labs in Secondary Schools as Perceived by Students With Diverse Demographics

Abstract

The accessibility of modern computer technologies in schools is increasing all over the globe. Generally, the presence of a well-equipped and functional computer lab facility in school provides the opportunity not only to modernize educational methods but also to augment students and teachers’ interest towards the efficient use of computer technology along with access to quality education. In line with prevailing global trends, federal and provincial governments in Pakistan especially Government of the Punjab also made concerted efforts to provide computer lab facility in secondary schools in past two decades. In this context, this article mainly focused on examining the usefulness of computer labs for enhancement of secondary school students learning experiences. Descriptive survey design was used to achieve the objectives of this study in which a self-developed questionnaire designed on Likert five-point format was administered to 320 sample students selected from 32 secondary schools using cluster and stratified random sampling techniques. Both the descriptive (i.e., percentage, mean, SD) and/or inferential statistics (i.e., independent-sample t-test) were used to analyze collected data. The results revealed that secondary school students believe, with a higher level of consensus, that computer labs are useful for enhancement of their learning. Some concerns, however, were also highlighted by students regarding the availability of required physical facilities in computer labs. It was recommended for school authorities to provide well-equipped and fully functional computer labs in schools to achieve maximum benefits for students.