Cyber Security Skills of Pre-Service Teachers as a Factor in Computer-Assisted Education

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the effect of individual cyber security skills of pre-service teachers on their attitudes towards computer-assisted education. Thus, the present research was designed as a correlational study. The study participants included 241 senior pre-service teachers in different departments at Manisa Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Education during the 2019-2020 academic year the fall semester. The data were collected with the "Personal Cyber Security Provision Scale" and "The Attitude Toward Computer-Assisted Education Scale." Based on the study findings, pre-service teachers should improve their competency in cyber security. Furthermore, pre-service teachers who owned a personal computer had higher scores in maintaining personal cyber security and had better attitudes towards computer-assisted education. Besides, it was observed that there were differences between personal cyber security scores of pre-service teachers and their attitudes towards computer-assisted education based on their departments. Furthermore, it was identified that the personal cyber security achievement score was a significant predictor of the attitude towards computer-assisted education. In the final section of the study, various recommendations are presented for future studies and applications on the subject.