Relationship Of Gender To.Faculty Use Of Online Educational Tools

Relationship Of Gender To Faculty Use Of Online Educational Tools
This is a really interesting research paper that questions whether gendered use of the Internet and hte Web extends to higher education faculty, and discusses possible implications.
"Online courses have become a vital part of the curriculum for most post-secondary institutions in the United States. Whether used for distance learning or as an enhancement to classroom teaching, the integration of online courses marks a distinct change in the system of higher education. According to this attitude of innovation, especially in the online environment, the traditional method of lecturing is no longer appropriate. New methods of instruction must be introduced into the online teaching world. How will these methods be defined and implemented? Who will define and implement them? One aspect to be considered here is the role of gender. The role that gender plays in online teaching has not yet been investigated to the extent this topic warrants, and specific pedagogic questions with respect to gender have neither been asked nor answered. The purpose of the study was to pose and report on some gender-related questions. Do male and female faculty make different teaching choices in online instruction methods based on their gender? Do these choices reflect societal gendered tendencies regarding technology? What are some of the implications for teaching and learning in higher education?"