Development and Use of an Instrument for Computer-Supported Learning Environments

This article begins by constructing an argument from the literature to support the view that research into the use of computers in classrooms must consider the overall learning environment. This provides the rationale for the development and use of the New Classroom Environment Instrument (NCEI) in research conducted into the use of portable computers in a school. This study particularly focused on the impact of the computers on classroom learning environments. An example is given of the use of the instrument to investigate the use of the portable computers with classes of 13-year-old students. The intention of the article is not to present the results of the study but to demonstrate the use of the instrument and encourage others to use such instruments in educational computing research.