Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g2PJHou25952; Mon, 25 Mar 2002 14:17:50 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 14:17:50 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <93642263B498D511A65E00D0B7914ACBC2FC7C@COTRMAL> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Bennett, Gina" <BENNETT@cotr.bc.ca> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2359] RE: gender X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Status: O Content-Length: 5726 Lines: 146 Hi Tommy, I teach a computer literacy class. My students include basic literacy students, learners with physical and/or mental disabilities, and a variety of others (e.g. senior citizens) who want a rock-bottom basic course in computing, in a self-paced, project-based format. To answer your direct questions: I do not see any clear gender differences in the way that women & men approach computer literacy learning for the first time. However, once they have their feet wet, I do notice that men tend to be more confident/adventurous about learning ahead on their own, while women tend to prefer more direction & are more likely to follow the steps or guidelines in the book. I do see major issues regarding the digital divide. Once my students are able to get a computer at home (we sell our outdated computers to students at a very modest price) their progress improves markedly. Those without a computer at home struggle with the lessons, have no opportunity to practice at home, & are more likely to get further & further behind. I have had a number of students with disabilities. There are usually a number of things I can do to assist: either by adjusting the accessibility settings on the computer, by requesting assistive software or hardware, or simply by printing a copy of our computer manual with a very large font size for visually impaired students (I wrote both of our computer literacy manuals -- one at ~ grade 3 reading level & one at ~ grade 5 level -- so there are no copyright concerns, thank goodness!) The whole area of making the technology fit the needs of learners with disabilities is absolutely fascinating! The learner audience tends to be highly appreciative & you get to play with the latest & greatest, cutting-edge techno-toys. If I had another life to live, I would pursue this as my life's work. However, such is not the case & I do not have the PD time & opportunities to devote to this that I would like. Hope this helps! Gina Gina Bennett, Instructor Access Education College of the Rockies Box 8500, Cranbrook BC V1C 5L7 Phone: (250) 489-2751 Local 402 E-mail: bennett@cotr.bc.ca -----Original Message----- From: Tommy B. McDonell [mailto:tbr202@nyu.edu] Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 11:33 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:2357] gender Hi. I've just finished four readings for a class I am taking in the = history of instructional technology about disabilites which include = gender, age, the digital divide etc. Alas, language is not one of the = ones mentioned by our authors.=20 But I would be interested in hearing from all of you between now and = tomorrow afternoon as to what you find in your classrooms. For example, = do girls/women not want to get on the computer or Internet? How much of = an issue do you find the digital divide? Do you have many students who = are physically challenged and if so how do you try to help these = students?=20 And I would be interested in how much of a background or teaching you've = been given to work in technology and/or ESL.=20 Who knows, while I am doing this for a class, perhaps I will find a = topic for my doctoral thesis. I keep looking for one! Tommy Tommy B. McDonell (Ms.) Adjunct, Marymount Manhattan College La Guardia Community College; Consultant- ClickOn @ the Library for the NYPL.=20 Doctoral Candidate at NYU 212-414-8513 before 9:30PM Tommy.McDonell@nyu.edu ------=_NextPart_000_008B_01C1D401.19AEDAB0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2713.1100" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hi. I've just finished four readings = for a class I=20 am taking in the history of instructional technology about disabilites = which=20 include gender, age, the digital divide etc. Alas, language is not one = of the=20 ones mentioned by our authors. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>But I would be interested in hearing = from all of=20 you between now and tomorrow afternoon as to what you find in your = classrooms.=20 For example, do girls/women not want to get on the computer or Internet? = How=20 much of an issue do you find the digital divide? Do you have many = students who=20 are physically challenged and if so how do you try to help these = students?=20 </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>And I would be interested in how much = of a=20 background or teaching you've been given to work in technology and/or = ESL.=20 </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Who knows, while I am doing this for a = class,=20 perhaps I will find a topic for my doctoral thesis. I keep looking for=20 one!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tommy</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Tommy B. McDonell (Ms.)<BR>Adjunct, = Marymount=20 Manhattan College<BR>La Guardia Community College; = Consultant-<BR>ClickOn @ the=20 Library for the NYPL. <BR>Doctoral Candidate at NYU<BR>212-414-8513 = before=20 9:30PM<BR><A=20 href=3D"mailto:Tommy.McDonell@nyu.edu">Tommy.McDonell@nyu.edu</A></FONT><= /DIV></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_008B_01C1D401.19AEDAB0--
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jan 17 2003 - 14:44:42 EST