COMPUTER COURSE ENROLLMENT, HOME COMPUTER ACCESS, AND GENDER - RELATIONSHIPS TO HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS SUCCESS WITH COMPUTER SPREADSHEET USE FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING IN PRE-ALGEBRA

The increasing use of computer technology in schools has brought with it concerns about equity of access to this new resource. Research has documented gender, social class, and racial inequalities in access to computers, and has linked computer access and experience to success in computer-related courses. This study examined the effects of home com puter access and computer course enrollment on mathematically weak hig h school students' success in applying computers as a learning resourc e in a pre-algebra course. The course featured regular use of teacher- designed spreadsheet activities that engaged students in mathematical investigation and problem solving. Enrollment in a computer course was a significant predictor of success during students' early experiences in applying computers for mathematical problem solving. Home computer access was related to initial success for females, and the advantage of enrollment in a computer course was greater for females who had acc ess to home computers than for those who did not. These initial advant ages diminished with continued use of computers in the curricular cont ext.