Examines the structure of undergraduate computing at a large private university, including patterns of use, impact of computer ownership and gender, and the bureaucratic structure in which usage is embedded. The profile of computer use uncovered in a survey is compared with reports offered by the institution and the trade press. (10 references)…

Describes a study that measured preschoolers' use of microcomputers in the following areas: (1) efficiency of use of input devices, including the keyboard, the joystick, and the mouse; (2) use during free-play activities, including interaction with the microcomputer and with each other; and (3) gender differences. (40 references) (LRW)

Schools throughout Australia both teach about computers and use computers as a medium for teaching at all levels of the educational system, but teachers use the computer to support existing pedagogic practice rather than looking to the computer as an agent of curriculum change. Drawing in a descriptive way upon a number of recent studies and…

This paper focuses on gender, ethnic, and social class differences in attitudes toward computers, access to computers, and use of computers in educational settings. Background on equity concerns in the late 1980s is provided, and reasons why this is currently considered an important issue are discussed. Recent data on differences in access and…

Describes a study of 328 British secondary school students that examined their attitudes toward computers in relation to gender, computer-related courses at school, and the availability of a computer at home. Use of the Computer Attitude Scale (CATT) is described, results are analyzed, and practical and theoretical implications for instructional…

In the past, computing facilities at the Open University in the United Kingdom have been provided through terminals and modems in local study centers. A new policy to implement home computer use will rely on student owned microcomputers. While this policy reflects a commitment to increasing the use of computers as distance education aids, it may…

The main purposes of this survey were to: (1) assess the perceptions and attitudes of students about whether boys or girls spend more time working with computers; (2) explore whether individual students at school prefer working alone or with someone else; (3) explore the possibility that girls who have access to home computers also have older…

Describes study that was conducted at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to examine variables that determine which undergraduates use microcomputers and how often they use them. Computer access, expected future computer use, and prior computer experience are discussed, and the influences of gender and class rank are examined. (17…

Discussion of task motivation focuses on study that investigated the choice behavior of college students within a computer problem solving task as they controlled and selected problem difficulty levels which maximized either intrinsic interest or extrinsic reward. Sex differences are examined, and treatment for experimental and control groups is…

Describes study that was conducted to investigate the effects of sex and school level on the computer anxiety of rural middle school and secondary school students when home availability and school use of computers were controlled. Use of the Computer Anxiety Scale is described, and implications for computer implementation are suggested. (34…

Describes telephone survey of undergraduate students at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst that was conducted to determine student opinions of policies that require them to take computer courses and/or to own a personal computer. Student attitudes toward computing and the variables that contribute to these attitudes are examined. (15…

Summarizes six research studies relating to computers in education. The research areas include the use of computer-generated graphs in critical evaluation and in learning distance and velocity concepts, sex differences in graphing skills, student evaluation of courseware, career paths of women with technological education, and characteristics of…

Use of computers by young children may increase cognitive development and motivation. Computer use may also increase capabilities of disabled children. Concerns about young children's use of computers center on the nature of software, cultural values reflected in software, and equity of computer use. (NH)

A study compared the effects of microcomputer-based software and hand-held calculators on the statistics achievement of 50 graduate students. Results showed no significant difference between computer and calculator groups or between genders but did show an interaction effect. Males using microcomputers outperformed 82% of females using…

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)