A Technology Gender Divide: Perceived Skill and Frustration Levels among Female Preservice Teachers

Bauer, J.F., (2000) A technology gender divide: perceived skill and frustration levels among female pre-service teachers. The University of Memphis, 1-17.

Summary/Analysis

This article examined female pre-service teachers perceptions of gender differences in the learning and use of computer technology. They compared themselves to males in regards to computer technology use, skill level, amount of self-esteem and frustration with technology. Also the teachers rated the effectiveness of their technology training within their teacher education program. The text contains relevant surveys and data that female teachers would be reluctant to embrace computer technology in the classroom and that teacher education programs do not do enough to encourage computer literacy among female students.

I really enjoyed reading this article and the substantiated facts that it contains. The data and surveys were relevant in building concrete evidence that the research suggests. I found this text to be thought provoking and engaging and it left me wanting to read more about the subject when I was done. Also the references were great and have lead me to other articles and books that discuss gender use and technology.

Resources/Quotes

A study of computer assisted instruction (CAI) at the first grade level concludes that just as gender socialization is related to gender differences in math, science, and reading achievement, quite possibly it is also related to gender differences in computer use. (2)

As our society becomes more technology-driven, the ultimate question may be whether gender inequities may lead to career economic ones as well. (2)

The findings suggest that lack of their own strong knowledge base of computer technology has led to the perception of men being stronger in this field, which in turn, could endanger a defeating, non-competitive, non-challenging stance toward the learning and use of computer technology. Further, an admission that they cannot solve problems as well as men could mean an unwillingness to expose themselves to technology difficulties in the first place. (7)

Of the pre-service teachers, 38% noted that they felt Teacher Education had not prepared them well enough to teach technology lessons in the classroom. (10)

Although it has certainly not sparked the controversy that the gender differences in math achievement scores did in the past, enough evidence has been generated to give cause for concern that women see themselves disadvantaged when learning computer technology. (11)

But for some reason there seems to be less of a concern with what to do with a computer once it becomes available on a desk. There a lot of computers in classes not being used today. The reason for this might be “gender divide”. (13)