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The relationship between the teacher’s approach to teaching and the student’s attitude toward technology in Croatian primary schools

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Abstract

This paper explores the possible relationships between students’ positive attitudes and interest toward technology and teachers’ approaches. The study was conducted with a sample of students (N = 2312) from 5 to 8th grade of primary school in Croatia. Reduced descriptions of teachers’ approaches were used as predictors of students’ positive attitudes and interest. Multiple regression was used to determine correlations between teachers’ approaches and students’ attitudes. The results show a weak but positive correlation between students’ attitudes and interests and teachers’ approaches typical of the flexible teacher profile. This refers to approaches in which teachers ensure that they understand the purpose of learning, implement activities that are useful from the students’ perspective, and allow students to do what they are successful at. Although the characteristics of Croatian technology teachers fit the flexible teacher profile, the correlated approaches identified here do not dominate. Despite the results, due to the complexity of the influence on students’ interests and attitudes, further research is needed that considers other possible predictors and their interactions.

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Funding

The Project is funded by University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia, project ID: uniri-drustv-18-207.

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  1. University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

    Damir Purković

  2. University of Split, Split, Croatia

    Stjepan Kovačević

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Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Results of the multiple regression analysis with forward algorithm for the selection of variables included in the model: Beta coefficient (beta), b coefficient (b), multiple correlation (R), coefficient of determination R2), and statistical significance (p).

See Tables 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Table 7 Results for the variable technical culture lessons are important (TCIL)
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Table 8 Results for the variable Lessons of the Informatics are important (INIL)
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Table 9 Results for the variable There should be more Technical Culture at school (MOTC)
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Table 10 Results for the variable There should be more Informatics at school (MINF)
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Table 11 Results for the variable Technology makes everything work better (BTEC)
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Table 12 Results for the variable Technology is very important in life (TECL)
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Table 13 Results for the variable Everyone needs technology (TECE)
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Table 14 Results for the variable I will probably choose a job in technology (JTEC)
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Table 15 Results for the variable I enjoy working with technology (ETEC)
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Table 16 Results for the variable I would like to become a technician or engineer (LING)
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Table 17 Results for the variable I would like to become a programmer or computer scientist (LINF)
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Purković, D., Kovačević, S. The relationship between the teacher’s approach to teaching and the student’s attitude toward technology in Croatian primary schools. Int J Technol Des Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-023-09875-1

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