Leveraging the power of diversity to create effective and empowering technology

Very little existing research has comprehensively examined the impact of new technologies on teaching and learning. Looking beyond the “training” of users to access and use ICTs, the work of the Gender, Diversities, and Technology Institute looks at how emerging technologies can be more effectively utilized to meet the needs of diverse learners—in effect humanizing technology. This paper reviews learning arising from a range of the Institute's research and practice, including large‐scale digital resource development that builds in accessibility and usability, online learning that engages learners and other stakeholders in creating equitable learning experiences, and e‐communications that incorporates and responds to issues arising at the intersection of gender and culture. Together, this work has raised new questions that lead to a re‐examination of the relationship between “users” and “developers,” as well as a need to look at the development process itself. The need to not only engage diverse users in the design and development process, but to also actively search for and build on the different starting points that arise from these diverse users is at the core of work to humanize technology and its impacts.