Research has revealed a clear gender divide in the value of the internet as a study resource. Over two fifths of women (43%) reported that access to the web helps them gain greater knowledge of their subject and attain better grades. A third of men feel the same way. The survey was conducted among 3,000 adults by distance learning specialist Home Learning College.
Despite a reputation for being better communicators, the research also found that women are less likely to discuss study problems with strangers or virtual friends over the internet. Just 14% find it helpful to chat online about their studies, compared to 18% of men.
Home Learning College was the first distance learning provider to develop an online campus for students. The Virtual Learning Community (VLC) allows students to interact with their tutor, take part in forums and online classes, upload assignments and access frequently asked questions. Since its launch in April 2008, the VLC has become extremely popular, with around one million user sessions each month (hitting a peak of 1.26 million in March 2010).
Since the introduction of the VLC, tutors spend less time answering common questions and more time on marking and proactively supporting students. This has allowed Home Learning College to beat ambitious targets to mark all assignments within 14 days. In fact, during 2010, 99% of assignments were marked within seven days.
“The internet has revolutionised the world of education and has had a particularly positive impact on the delivery of distance learning,” says Dave Snow, Academic Director at Home Learning College. “However, it’s interesting to see that male and female students are using online resources in different ways. The fact that women are less likely to discuss their studies online may be down to them feeling more comfortable talking to friends in person, resulting in a reduced need for virtual buddies.
“Gender differences aside, the study shows that the internet plays a welcome role for many in the acquisition of knowledge and the sharing of ideas. Our Virtual Learning Community acts as a vibrant online campus, allowing all our students to get the most from their studies.”