Gender Dependency and Cultural Independency of Science Interest in an Open and Distant Science Learning Environment

Autor/inn/en	Baram-Tsabari, Ayelet; Kaadni, Alaa
Titel	Gender Dependency and Cultural Independency of Science Interest in an Open and Distant Science Learning Environment
Quelle	In: International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 10 (2009) 2, (22 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1492-3831
Schlagwörter	Science Interests; Cultural Differences; Distance Education; Science Instruction; Open Education; Foreign Countries; Stereotypes; Gender Differences; Student Interests; Age Differences; Cross Cultural Studies; Elementary Secondary Education; Postsecondary Education; Educational Technology; Afghanistan; Algeria; Bahrain; Egypt; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Morocco; Oman; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Tunisia; Turkey; United Arab Emirates + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Kultureller Unterschied; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Offene Erziehung; Offener Unterricht; Ausland; Klischee; Geschlechterkonflikt; Studieninteresse; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Cultural comparison; Kulturvergleich; Post-secondary education; Tertiäre Bildung; Unterrichtsmedien; Algerien; Ägypten; Irak; Libanon; Libyen; Marokko; Palästina; Katar; Saudi-Arabien; Syrien; Tunesien; Türkei; Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
Abstract	This study aims to describe the similarities and differences in the science interests of males and females from Israeli and Arab Middle Eastern countries, as derived from over 1,000 science questions sent to an international ask-a-scientist site. Our findings indicate that while the stereotypical gender gap in interest persists, and significant differences were found between the age groups, no significant differences were found between science questions that were sent by Israelis and Arabs. Furthermore, no correlation was found between female participation and the state of gender equity in the country, and only 1% of the questions made any reference to country-specific, local, or religious aspects. One may conclude that science interests are gender- and age-dependent but culturally-independent in this asynchronous, open and distant science learning environment. Further research is needed in order to determine if this is a genuine attribute of science interest in ODL environments or an outcome of the digital divide in the region. (Contains 5 tables and 3 endnotes.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Athabasca University. 1200, 10011 - 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada. Tel: 780-421-2536; Fax: 780-497-3416; e-mail: irrodl@athabascau.ca; Web site: http://www.irrodl.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10