Do Female Students Feel Differently Than Male Students About Using Software Tutors?

Do female students feel differently than male students about using software tutors? One recent study suggests that women are concerned about the passivity of their interactions with the computer as a (learning) tool. Another study suggests that women who have taken online courses are enthusiastic about computer-based learning. In order to answer this question ourselves, we conducted two studies in fall 2004 and spring 2005 using the software tutors we have developed for introductory programming topics. We analyzed the data filled out by students in the feedback form administered after using each tutor. We found that there was no statistically significant difference between female and male students on their assessment of the usability, ability to learn from and the usefulness of software tutors. This result is reassuring to both developers and users of software tutors for learning