Use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) across genders and impact on achievement

         The vast majority of students have computers and Internet connections at home. Not having a computer at home is associated with poorer performance on the CBAS test. Overall, males score higher than females on the frequency of use of scales. Perhaps as a result of this, they also score higher on the confidence in using ICT scales, particularly in Iceland.          Females tend to use the Internet more for social networking activities such as chatting and email and their confidence is consequently higher for these activities. Males tend to browse the Internet, play games and download software a lot more than females and they perform advanced computer activities more frequently. Overall, males have much more confidence than females in most ICT activities, which is also found in ICT PISA 2003 results.       