A study examined the effect of computer assisted instruction on the reading achievement of third- through sixth-grade students in a low socio-economic status community. Subjects were 23 students randomly selected from 41 students who received computer-assisted instruction and 23 students randomly selected from 28 students who did not receive…

Compared two kindergarten classrooms for variance in computer use. Found no significant difference in computer use by sex or age, but a significant increase in computer use by classroom in the second half of the 12-week project compared to the first half. Found no significant difference in the software selected. (HTH)

Describes a study of students at Buffalo State College that was conducted to compare achievement results between a class taught with computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and one taught without CAI. Computer attitudes are examined, sex differences are discussed, and pretest and posttest scores are analyzed. (17 references) (LRW)

Describes a study of middle school students' use of educational software that was conducted to determine whether it was being used as intended. Popular programs used by girls and by boys are described and compared, particularly "Oregon Trail," and use as entertainment instead of education is discussed. (Contains three references.) (LRW)

Discusses whether the mathematics achievement of at-risk fifth-grade students using computer-assisted instruction (CAI) differs from that of at-risk students using other methods of instruction. Found that boys using CAI made greater gains than boys using paper and pencil activities, and that at-risk girls made gains in math skills regardless of…

This study focused primarily on two types of computer interfaces and the differences in academic performance that resulted from their use; it was secondarily designed to examine gender differences that may have existed before and after any change in interface. Much of the basic research in computer use was conducted with command line interface…

Describes a survey that was conducted to identify the range of software programs in use in a sample of higher education institutions, examine usage patterns, and identify those programs reported as most useful to students, including foreign students. Gender differences and perceptions of Macintosh versus IBM hardware are also considered. (LRW)

Reports the results of a study of 65 United Kingdom primary school children that examined the effect of software type by comparing children's performance on a male stereotyped version of the software with a female stereotyped version. Topics include computer attitudes, computer experience, and software preferences. (Author/LRW)

Compares the use of four different versions of a map by fourth and fifth grade students with a computerized adventure game which simulated an environmental exploration. Variables examined included type of map and student gender, ability to learn place location information while playing the game, and enjoyment of the game. (RP)

Discussion of the role of computers in teaching basic writers to write focuses on a study of college students that examined the quality of student essays produced with word processing versus paper and pencil, described the kinds of thinking evidenced, and investigated whether any differences were gender related. (20 references) (LRW)

Describes a study of first-year students at a university in Scotland that was conducted to determine their use of computers at home and in school, their knowledge about information technology, and reasons for not studying computing. Results are compared with two earlier studies to examine gender-related differences over time. (Contains 12…

A survey and analysis of online search strategies of 675 CD-ROM users at the University of Albany (New York) revealed a significant but small relationship between prior instruction and level of search skill. Of other measures: user status, department affiliation/major, age, sex, and CD-ROM experience, only user status and department…

Describes two studies that compared university students' judgments about the readability and studyability of two sets of computer screens: a set of model displays and a set of real screens copied from computer-assisted instruction programs. Relationships among viewers' preferences and field dependence/independence, conceptual style, and gender…

Using 74 eighth graders, the effects of computer-assisted cooperative, competitive, and individualistic instruction were compared. Computer-assisted cooperative instruction promoted greater quantity and quality of daily achievement, more successful problem solving, more task-related student-student interaction, and increased the perceived status…

Describes four research studies that deal with students and computers. Three are programing studies that examine the effects of computer programing on problem solving and other cognitive skills of students in grades four through eight; the fourth study analyzes characteristics of students who entered a programing competition. (LRW)