A Study of Computer Anxiety among Teacher Trainees considering Gender and Geographic Disparities

The study investigates the levels of computer anxiety among Diploma in Education (D.Ed.) student-teachers in Pune, Maharashtra, with a focus on gender and geographic disparities. Utilizing the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale (CARS), data were collected from a sample of 206 student-teachers. The findings reveal that a majority (68.93%) experience medium levels of computer anxiety, with notable proportions experiencing low (16.99%) and high (14.04%) anxiety levels. Female student-teachers exhibit higher medium anxiety (71.65%) compared to males (63.89%), while males show a higher prevalence of high anxiety (19.44%). Geographic analysis indicates that urban student-teachers are more likely to experience low anxiety (25.42%) compared to rural counterparts (13.61%), who are more prone to high anxiety (17.69%). These patterns persist when examining sub-groups, with rural female student-teachers notably experiencing higher levels of anxiety. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to address computer anxiety, particularly among male and rural student-teachers, to enhance their readiness and confidence in integrating technology into their future classrooms.