Computer Literacy Program: A Study of Adult Student Perspectives

This study aims to explore the perspective of adult participants from the rural areas on computer literacy program performance in terms of the cognitive domain, affective domain and skills based on gender, age and socioeconomic status. The study employed a questionnaire with five point Likert scale to collect data. This study uses Hammond and Collin’s (1991) model of evaluation, which contains three components, namely teaching, achievement, and behaviour. The study sample consisted of 537 participants enrolled in Computer Literacy Program organized by the Department of Community Development in four states in Malaysia. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. The results show that male participants are more positive towards the teaching dimension of computer compared to female participants. Moreover, the results show that the mature age group between 41 to 50 years is seen to have better knowledge and skills in using computers than other age groups, whereas the income groups of MYR2000 have higher computer purchasing power. It is recommended that any development program for rural area should take into consideration the factors of gender and socioeconomics so that rural youth are not left behind in the country's development. Key-Words: Computer Literacy, Skills, Socio-Economic, Gender, Adults, Rural Community