EQUITY ISSUES AFFECTING MATHEMATICS LEARNING USING ICT

Our concern is the inequities that arise from differential access and use of educational technology in mathematics for groups characterised by gender, ethnicity, income level and ability. As access to information and communications technology (ICT) increases both in homes and schools, our paper asks whether previous inequities are being ironed out or exacerbated. Equity is considered from the three perspectives proposed by Fennema (1990), namely in terms of: (a) opportunities to learn (physical access); (b) educational treatment (how technology is used, by whom), and the social and psychological factors influencing its use; (c) educational outcomes (impacts on achievement, attitudes and motivation). Suggested policies and pedagogies for removing the boundaries between technology ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ are presented.