New Learning Technologies: Promises and Prospects for Women

As a fund raising idea, a "millennium project" was proposed that would link countries around the world on issues of women and technology.

The most significant issues raised in this workshop were:

• diversity, ensuring that institutional access is available and relevant to all women
  
• lobbying or pressuring institutions for women's access and involvement
  
• community involvement, ensuring that institutions do not set the agenda or identify needs for various communities
  
• that women's achievements and pioneering in various areas of technology are documented and shared to provide models and inspiration to those new to the field and to record what's been accomplished

Quality of the Learning Experience (facilitated by Pat Webb)
As with Friday's workshop, this group attempted to define what, for women, gave quality to a learning experience. Similar elements to Friday's discussion were named: having learning appropriate to one's needs or goals, being able to practically apply learning (to one's own life or work), having role models and passionate teachers, having time and resources to learn, time to reflect on knowledge one already has, diversity of opportunity and mode of learning, fun in learning, and learning in a community.

With respect to new technologies, the quality of learning is influenced by those who design new equipment and software. To date, not many educators (or women) have been involved in the design of technologies or programs utilized in education. The question is whether corporations such as Disney or individuals such as Bill Gates, or those who are graphic designers, become the teachers if they are in control of the technologies and software used in learning.

The production of technologies and upgrades is corporate-driven, not coming from consumers. Strategies were suggested of how to utilize the power of consumers to influence what is produced: lobbying, boycotts, creating an alternative product. Established women's groups, CCLOW included, should outreach more to women and other groups to form a stronger network.

Most important issues were:

• a method of evaluating the quality of the learning experience irrespective of the use of technology, and feeding that evaluation back into the educational process
  
• ensuring women's and educators' input into the design of technologies, programs, and software