To discover children's knowledge about computer operation and programing characteristics and its effect on children's perceptions of computer expertise, pre- and posttests were administered to 292 children from 5th, 7th and 9th grades. Children were randomly assigned to see a factual film on computers or to a film on another subject. It was hypothesized that increased knowledge about computers would lower student perception of its expertise. Pretests indicated all children, regardless of age level or previous computer-assisted instruction (CAI) experience, held a high regard for computer expertise; posttest indicated that those who viewed the film changed in a direction supporting the hypothesis of the study. Older students perceived the computer as somewhat more expert than did younger ones, and CAI-experienced students more than non-CAI experienced students. It was concluded that social lessons as well as cognitive outcomes were taught by CAI programs. (SK)