Kids and Computers
Literature in other countries suggests that access to computers, attitudes towards its use and preferred learning styles in the acquisition of computer competence may not be gender neutral. They also imply that gender differences, manifested primarily in disadvantages experienced by girls, correlate with age of exposure to the computer. I.e. when children are exposed to computer use at an early age, gender differences in learning, interest and attitude are greatly minimized, and this effect persists.
These findings are especially relevant to Austria, where computer use is not nearly as pervasive as it is in the U.S. Computers are only beginning to be introduced into elementary and middle school, the most common age of introduction is at the high school level. Earlier exposure to computers is limited to middle class families where a computer may be available at home. Here, the nearly total absence of German-language computer games attractive to girls creates a large gap in computer use by gender.
The study is first seeking to determine more precisely what the situation in German-speaking Europe is. How many girls and boys have access to a family computer? At what age does school instruction begin? On the basis of these data, we will develop recommendations concerning:
Methods of computer instruction at various age levels
Software recommendations for play and learning
Guidelines for teachers
all comments are welcome under the address: [email protected]