Chapter: 1 Science & Engineering Indicators 93
Use of Computers
(Click here for footnote 18.) The availability and use of computers in the classroom is on the rise. Since the early 1980s, the number of computers in schools has increased from approximately 50,000 to 2,400,000 in 1989. During this period, the way in which computers are used in school has changed. In 1983, when few computers were available, schools tried to provide a taste of computer experience to as many students as possible, without providing competence for any student. By 1985, schools had more computers, and teachers were using them to enhance their students' daily lessons. The computers were seldom used, however, to provide instruction in conventional school subjects. By 1989, computer laboratories were more common, and elementary school students were using computers to practice their basic skills. (See text table 1-10.)

The most current data indicate that students mostly use computers to learn computer-specific skills such as word processing or database programs. The use of computers is infrequent in mathematics and science classes compared with their use in computer classes; only 8 percent of mathematics and 5 percent of science class time was spent using computers. During the 1988/89 school year, 42 percent of all mathematics teachers and 36 percent of all science teachers said they used computers in at least one class; however, the computer instruction tends not to be integrated with subject matter.

ETS (1991) found that 34 percent of fourth grade and 21 percent of eighth grade students have computers available in their classrooms. An additional 47 percent of fourth grade and 52 percent of eighth grade students have computers available in the school, but they are difficult to access. These data indicate that fourth grade students use computers much more frequently than eighth grade students to solve mathematics problems. Only 12 percent of eighth grade students use computers for 30 minutes or more each week to solve mathematics problems compared to 41 percent of fourth graders. Almost three-quarters of eighth grade students do not use computers at all to solve mathematics problems in class compared to only 31 percent of fourth graders.

Footnote 18:
 The data in this section are from Becker (1991).

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