Chad: I’m not sure about the question about students enrolled in virtual schools and their perceptions of gender. That is a great question and certainly one worth exploring.

Cindy: YOU are awesome! I am glad we’ve been able to become acquainted via Karen Montgomery telling me about you and METC!

I do find it interesting when looking at pics on blogs or Twitter of the people. Some use regular pictures, some use a graphic, some just show a body part, like an eye – obviously there’s a reason-is it to avoid exactly what you are talking about? This does make a person disregard appearance and focus more on the content of what they are saying.

I wonder if students who take online classes or are in virtual schools experience the same thing?

Besides, it is not surprising to me that there are so many female education technology leaders.

Women for decades have been educating their children from within the home – often whilst fathers are absent or gone out to work

Thank you so much – not only for including me in this list of articulate and inspirational educators – but also for pointing out, so eloquently, something which has been pestering me for some time.

There’s a conference I’m very excited to attend, but I have to admit, I was disappointed to see only one female keynote speaker among the seven keynoters in total – especially when I know from daily interactions with many of the women on your list (and more) that there are plenty of outstanding female educators to choose from. I wish I was seeing more of them presented as leaders in face to face venues…

Please don’t think you have to impress me… I’m the one who is honored to be influenced by the great ideas and work of so many excellent mentors like yourself!

Thanks for including me in this list, and I’ll keep working hard to live up to your perception of my work!

I’d also like to add that higher ed is another venue for finding interesting speakers on topics related to educational technology. There are many people, both male and female, worth listening to in higher academia. From my perspective, I’d like to see more conversations going on between practitioners and academics. I’m particularly thinking about the work of my colleague, Nichole Pinkard, as an example of where these two worlds can meet in order to benefit kids. Check out her work here: http://spotlight.macfound.org/main/entry/nichole_pinkard_youth_multiliterate_learners/

And as being educators, we need to keep a watchful eye on children, the most underrepresented and disenfranchised group of all. To level the many playing fields out, we need to address sexism, ageism, adultism, heterosexism, racism, etc. in tandem, not separately nor sequentially. There is no order. It’s all connected! Who have you invited to your dinner table lately?

So thank you for publishing the list!

I have voiced this concern that we need more women voices who are articulate with my peers on many occasions. We have questioned where they are and why we do not hear them as much. I had this conversation today with a colleague who has a PhD in education. I have had it with a number of my peers. You are certainly correct in pointing us to a number of very articulate women who are using their voice. However, we are still the minority.

I do recognize the fact that, speaking from demographics, who we are hearing align very much with the stats on IT demographics (white males being the largest group). We not only need to hear from women, but also the other marginalized groups in our societies: those of colour, those of native status, those of other minority groups. I take heart that these statistics are changing.

Those that are active in the eduonlinesphere usually represent openness and equality for all in education. Let’s keep working at that goal – together!

Great list Wes. Now here’s a list of women to read in the blogosphere:
http://brandon-hall.com/janetclarey/?p=468

brandon-hall.com/janetclarey/?p=468 (just in case links are banned in your comments.)

It’s too bad that it’s necessary, but honestly, it is. It’s not a level playing field, not yet anyway. Hope the work that all of us do, men and women both, evens that out.

See you in San Antonio.

Teryl, TN DEN LC