TeachersÕ attitudes toward information and communication technologies: the case of Syrian EFL teachers Abdulkafi Albirini * Department of Educational Policy and Leadership, Technologies of Instruction and Media Program, 203 Jennings Hall, 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Received 18 August 2004; accepted 29 October 2004 Abstract Based on the new technology initiative in Syrian education, this study explored the attitudes of high school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Syria toward ICT. In addition, the study investi- gated the relationship between computer attitudes and five independent variables: computer attributes, cul- tural perceptions, computer competence, computer access, and personal characteristics (including computer training background). The findings suggest that teachers have positive attitudes toward ICT in education. TeachersÕ attitudes were predicted by computer attributes, cultural perceptions and computer competence. The results point to the importance of teachersÕ vision of technology itself, their experiences with it, and the cultural conditions that surround its introduction into schools in shaping their attitudes toward technology and its subsequent diffusion in their educational practice. Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Media in education; Secondary education; Country-specific development; Pedagogical issues 1. Introduction The last two decades have witnessed a worldwide proliferation of information and commu- nication technologies (ICT, henceforth) into the field of education. The global adoption of 0360-1315/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2004.10.013 * Tel.: +1 614 292 9255; fax: +1 614 292 1262. E-mail address: albirini.1@osu.edu. www.elsevier.com/locate/compedu Computers & Education 47 (2006) 373–398