Does gender matter in online learning?

Abstract

The image of a stereotypical computing student is still 'geeky' (Selby, Ryba and Young, 1997; Margolis, Fisher and Miller, 1999) or 'nerdy, unwashed and working incredibly long hours, pausing occasionally to drink coke and order a pizza' (Brook, Mann and Virtue, 2000). This might be the reason that only 20 per cent of undergraduate IT students are female (Brook et ah, 2000). Indeed over the years there have been many attempts to be proactive and promote women in IT, both by institutes and individuals.