The Patterns of Information & Communication Technology Use among Students:

The Case of Home Computers

E. Talaee, PhD

R. Safian

The present study was undertaken to examine the patterns of home computers use among students. In this qualitative, phenomenological research purposeful sampling method (maximum variation sampling) was used and 8 students from eleven families were selected. Maximum variation sampling enabled the researchers to increase the theoretical generalizability. Primary data collection methods were questionnaire, observation as well as semi-structured and unstructured interview. The collected data were analyzed through various methods such as coding to abstract out the themes. The findings indicated that: 1) the use of home computers was not instigated by school learning, 2) most of students’ home computer use was dedicated to game playing and entertainment rather than academic activities, 3) in students’ and some parents’ opinion, non-academic computer activities can result in certain implicit learning despite the fact that no correlational or causal relationship can be claimed based on the findings of this study.

Key words: culture, Information and Communication Technology, home computer, informal learning