Analysis of existing gender differences in the effect of using the Virtual Campus platform of the Politehnica University of Timisoara

Camelia Ciuclea,Andrei Ternauciuc,N Herisanu,R Vasiu,M Razzaghi

doi:10.1051/itmconf/20192903011

Camelia Ciuclea, Andrei Ternauciuc + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/itmconf/20192903011

Copy DOI

Abstract

Admitting the increasing interest for education delivered by the means of technology is relevant if we consider all the aspects, including features related to gender. Several studies point out that women and men differ in their way of interacting with technology, ICT being traditionally associated with men [1]. In the context of blended learning settings, there are several existing gender differences, which means a statistical analysis focused on differences between men and women users of the Virtual Campus platform is needed. The main objective of this study is to provide evidence of significant gender differences in the effect of using certain platform tools by both genders. A subsequent objective is to test if the efficiency of both manners of working with e-learning tools eventually converge around similar results (in case the results point to scarce differences). The research was conducted by looking at the final number of students following the Distance Learning program run by the eLearning Center at UPT, during the first semester of the academic year 2017-2018. Distance learning students enrolled at Politehnica University Timisoara are mostly digital natives, consumers of technology in order to support the teaching and learning processes. The aim of this paper is to analyze the gender differences in using the platform, based on the students’ online activity statistics from Moodle and all the resulting data.

Highlights

The emergence of electronic learning was an inevitable consequence of the digital revolution, which began around the start of the 21st century
Since they originate from heterogeneous environments it made us think of a possible case study that could analyze and interpret special aspects of their activity online, such as differences or similarities
The results of this case study we conducted at Politehnica University Timisoara show:

Summary

Introduction

The emergence of electronic learning (eLearning) was an inevitable consequence of the digital revolution, which began around the start of the 21st century. It was possible because of all the innovations in information and communication technologies [2]. Back in the 1980’s it worked as a form of Computer-Based Training but as universities opened towards delivering their programs and curricula, the eLearning phenomenon emerged. The Politehnica University of Timisoara constantly adapts to the eLearning needs of the students and teachers. A prime example is including the Virtual Campus of the Politehnica University of Timisoara (CVUPT), a Moodle based eLearning platform, among its priorities.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion