Some institutional influences on secondary mathematics teachers' use of computers

This paper discusses the manifestations of both schools' IT policies and available technical support as reported by thirty-eight secondary teachers from different schools. Two categories of whole school policy were identified. The first insisted that IT should be taught by specialist teachers whilst the second devolved this responsibility to subject areas. For a variety of reasons both were viewed as problematic. A minority of schools appeared to have no coherent policy. Departmental policies, which were generally a consequence of the enthusiasms of an individual or an impending school inspection, were rarely indicative of coherent views on the impact of computers on teaching and learning. Teachers' computer usage was frequently dependent upon a willing and able IT coordinator although few such colleagues had sufficient time to offer support in systematic and consistent ways. A similar story emerged in respect of IT technicians. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.