Gender and Technology Perception at the ORIENTATION MEETING:

Three SMARTS art and music teachers and Three UMass faculty will make 1 hour presentations about their art and technology specialty to TAC students during the course of the semester.

The orientation meeting was a planning session designed for SMARTS and UMass faculty to meet and to visit the TAC computer lab. We were equally divided according to gender and I thought as an opening activity, I would take the opportunity to explore existing issues surrounding the use of technology and gender.

The orientation meeting activity

I am interested in whether men and women perceive differences in the way the opposite gender deals with technology in every day life. I am curious if this causes differences in learning styles and any gender-based difficulties in learning about technology. I hope to document and discuss possible gender-based learning blocks to technology in my thesis paper, and to offer possible solutions. TAC Instructor, Lori Bradley

The following exercise did help to point out some of the possible differences in perception. It was also a good icebreaker and made a for a fun and interesting conversation;:

1) All members of the group were asked to take a 3" by 5" card and write down what they feel is the most annoying aspect of dealing with the opposite gender in terms of technology. (one or two sentences).

2) The group was assured anonymity of their response. All cards were placed in a hat and redistributed to another member of the group.

3) No mention of gender was mentioned in the comments. For example, rather than writing "Men sometimes...." write "They sometimes...".

4) Cards were redistributed and each group member read the card of another as if it were their own comment.

5) All comments were written on the chalk board or large piece of paper at the front of the room.

6) Members were asked to vote on whether they think a man was making the comment about women or vice versa.

7) Votes are tallied. Members were told they could choose to reveal and discuss their comment. Nobody choose to do this. Votes revealed how group members perceived possible differences between men and women in terms of using technology. It did help illuminate some possible issues that can affect the learning curve of a particular group. This exercise was designed to generate discussion and to highlight perceptions held by the group, NOT to pinpoint individual prejudices.

Results of our Gender activity:

What do you feel is the most annoying aspect of dealing with the opposite gender in terms of technology?

A man said this about women