The non-neutrality of educational computer software
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TL;DR
The article analyzes the treatment of gender, ethnicity and multicultural perspectives in 30 randomly selected educational software programs currently used in U.S. schools and concludes that educational software is at least, if not more biased than the printed page it may one day replace.
Abstract
This article questions the non-neutrality of technology, as represented by educational computer software used in American schools. It first analyzes database programs to illustrate their selection-amplification function, and then discusses how educational software, like textbooks, are forms of knowledge control that transmit selected values and role models to students. The article then analyzes the treatment of gender, ethnicity and multicultural perspectives in 30 randomly selected educational software programs currently used in U.S. schools. It concludes, based on the programs analyzed, that educational software is at least, if not more biased than the printed page it may one day replace.