Teenagers' Elective Use of Computer Technology in Middle and High Schools: The Role of Gender

摘要

The decline in new entrants to IT professions coincides with the burgeoning use of new information and communications technologies among adolescent users. Teenage girls embrace a wide range of new technologies, yet are less interested in IT-related careers or college majors than their counterparts in earlier years. In order to forestall further declines in IT college majors, educators in middle schools and high schools must learn how to better instill an appreciation for IT career opportunities in their students. The purpose of this paper is to report on our descriptive study of teenagers' technology-based perceptions, habits and interests, and to explore the link between these usage patterns and other personal attributes concerning technology access in their homes and schools. With this understanding of current usage patterns, educators and employers will be in a better position to review IT-related pedagogy and curricula, and to appraise IT career options in a more informed light.