VLEs, and ILT in general, are gender-neutral (and the same for issues of
ethnicity, wealth, etc.).
Students, of course, are not. They are all individuals.
One of the fun things about computers in general is that they do not
distinguish between any of these common 'differences' - a computer cares
only that your input is correct, it doesn't care what colour your hide is,
who you worship, who you sleep with or which restroom you use.
Indeed on the Internet in particular, an individual is free to present their
own choice of face to the world. For all you know I'm a white, left-handed
Christian female who's in a long-term heterosexual relationship... or maybe
I'm not :-)
I think that ILT is a great provider of opportunity, because ANYONE can use
them. Even most physical and sensory disabilities can be worked around with
a bit of thought and determination. The only 2 real barriers inhibit those
who are not intelligent enough to cope, and those who are not prepared to
make the attempt. The first is the only one that is a genuine barrier, and
even that can be got around with materials developed in a sensitive manner
at an appropriate level of understanding.
Megan.
ILT Champion, City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Price
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 07/04/03 13:59
Subject: Re: VLEs and gender issues
> Confused...
>
> What 'gender issues' are there in a VLE?
>
This isnt such a trivial question. Are VLEs (and information technology
in general) gender-neutral so that males and females benefit equally
from their application? If the answer to that could be 'no', the
implications would be serious and it's worth getting some answers.
Some possible gender issues are:
- the *access* that females have to computers and technology *before*
they get to university/college and therefore the ease with which they
are likely to cope with learning delivered online. Access can refer not
only to hardware and connectivity, but also to the level of their
opportunities to access technology.
- the *levels* of IT skills of women vs men.
- the *culture* of being seen to be 'good' at computers. In some cases,
girls/women may get an easier time by actually being or pretending to be
technologically incapable.
All these things (and so many more) could effect how the VLE is received
and used by students. It could mean that we are not offering equality of
provision, that the playing field is not as level as we think it is.
This short reply has not given justice to this question. I'll finish by
saying that it's worth considering that some of the issues that may
apply to female students could also be valid with respect to questions
of poverty and ethnicity.
Sarah
----------------------------------------------------------------
Sarah Price
Manager
JISC Regional Support Centre
Scotland North & East
Tel: 0131 315 7674 Fax: 0131 315 7675
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/
----------------------------------------------------------------
> Megan.
> ILT Champion, City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Riina Vuorikari
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 07/04/03 11:51
> Subject: VLEs and gender issues
>
> All,
>
> I'm looking into gender issues and the use & development of
> VLEs. I wonder if you would know any places to look into for
> some leads?
>
> What I'm interested is to know if there are any
> recommendations for schools and communities to deal with
> this, especially in school environments? Or if you have taken
> any explicit action plans in this issue?
>
> So far, the most interesting publication that I found is
> "Tech-Savvy: Educating Girls in the New Computer Age" (2000)
> at http://www.aauw.org/2000/techsavvy.html
>
> Thanks for any additional information.
>
> Regards,
>
> Riina Vuorikari
> ================
> [log in to unmask]
> Research Analyst
>
> European Schoolnet
> http://www.eun.org
>
> INSIGHT: Knowledge base for
> New Technology and Education
> http://insight.eun.org
>
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> Access the list via the web on
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***************** List information: *****************
Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
The Ferl VLE Focus Area is at
http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=76
To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave
vle
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed in this email are those of the individual and not
necessarily the Company. This email and any files transmitted with it,
including replies and forwarded copies (which may contain alterations)
subsequently transmitted from the Company, are confidential and solely for
the use of the intended recipient. It may contain material protected by
attorney-client privilege. If you are not the intended recipient or the
person responsible for the delivery to the intended recipient, be advised
that you have received this email in error and that any use is strictly
prohibited.
If you have received this email in error please notify the IT manager by
email to [log in to unmask], including a copy of this message. Please
then delete this email and destroy any copies of it.
***************** List information: *****************
Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
The Ferl VLE Focus Area is at http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=76
To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave vle
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