Human and Community Development

Digital Media, Learning & Education

FROM THE FIELD

• Research Findings: Online Participation Divide — Men Sharing more of their Creative Work
• June 27, 2008

• A recent study from Northwestern University finds that men are more likely to share their creative work online than women — despite the fact that both women and men engage equally in creative activities. The study underscores the importance of considering universal readiness to participate, and not access to technology. Supported by a MacArthur grant to Eszter Hargittai and Peter Miller, the study is co-authored by Hargittai and Gina Walejko and is available for download.

 More From the Field

Grantmaking in education seeks primarily to gain a better understanding of how digital technologies are changing how young people learn, play, socialize, exercise judgment, and engage in civic life. Grantmaking also is exploring how learning environments – peers, family and social institutions (such as schools) – may be changing as well. Through answers to these questions, and the policy responses to them, the Foundation seeks to help build the interdisciplinary, cross-sector field of digital media and learning. To learn more about this initiative, visit the Digital Media and Learning website, or engage with grantees on the Spotlight blog.

An effort also continues to improve schools in Chicago neighborhoods where other Foundation-funded community revitalization activities are underway.