Irma Heemskerk

Inclusiveness and ICT in education: a focus on gender, ethnicity and social class

This paper presents the results of a literature review on gender, ethnic and socioeconomic status differences related to ICT in primary and secondary education. The review was conducted in order to develop an index for analysing the inclusiveness of educational ICT applications. The research question was: ‘How and to what extent do the characteristics of educational ICT tools enhance or inhibit learning for different groups of students?’ A discussion of both research- and practice-oriented literature results in a proposal for such an index. The paper concludes with a discussion of various dilemmas associated with the idea of the index, and of the ways in which it may be used in research and educational practice.

Gender Inclusiveness in Educational Technology and Learning Experiences of Girls and Boys

Abstract The use of technology (information and communication technology, ICT) in secondary education is an important aspect of the current curriculum and of teachers’ pedagogy. Learning supported by computers is supposed to be motivating for students and is, therefore, assumed to have positive effects on learning experiences and results. However, the question remains whether these motivating effects are equal for all students. Although the gender gap in the use of ICT and knowledge about it has diminished, there are still indications that the use of technology in education affects girls and boys differently. The present empirical study focuses on the relationship between the inclusiveness of educational tools and the learning experiences of girls and boys. The results show that gender scripts are embedded in educational tools, which are reinforced in classroom practice and affect learner experiences. A greater inclusiveness of the tools appears to improve the participation of students, enhances positive attitudes toward learning and technology, and improves the learning effects as reported by girls and boys. Girls especially tend to benefit from the inclusiveness of educational tools.

Inclusiveness of ICT in Secondary Education: Students' Appreciation of ICT Tools

This paper presents the results of a study on students’ appreciation of information and communication technology (ICT) applications in schools for general secondary education. We investigate to what extent students from different gender and ethnic backgrounds appreciate various characteristics of ICT tools. The research question is, ‘How are students’ characteristics related to their appreciation of ICT tools in secondary education?’ A survey was conducted on 495 students from schools in the Netherlands. A questionnaire was developed based on the literature on cultural sensitivity and gender-inclusiveness in educational software. The results of the study firstly show that the questionnaire is an appropriate instrument for distinguishing between tools which are positively and negatively evaluated by different groups of students. Secondly, regarding group differences, the results show that girls appreciate applications that deal with an interesting subject, are easy to work with and provide good support. Different appreciations between students from different origins were found in regard to language achievements and ICT skills. The results are discussed, as well as the possible educational implications for the design and selection of ICT tools.