Author(s)

R. Meßmer & S. Schmitz

Abstract

The current debate on gender and e-learning runs the risk of getting trapped in a female-male dichotomy by defining gender-stereotyped styles of learning, communication, and computer literacy. A closer look at the state of the art in this area, however, reveals differences in use and efficiency of new media applied in e-learning scenarios that are too complex to be defined only along the gender border. Learning, working, and communication styles relate to the subjects’ personal experiences and their computer literacy; they are context dependant and influenced by the learning environment. However, living in a gender-stereotyped world leads to both gendered cultural and social experiences as well as gendered strategies in learning and dealing with new technologies and new media. I

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