Girl Power! A girl's introduction to computing
This course offered as a Rochester Scholars Jr. class to middle
school aged girls,
Summer 2005, February 2006, Summer 2006
 |
| Class participants just completed an exercise in writing step-by-step
instructions for making peanut butter & jelly
sandwiches. |
According to the research performed by the Commission on Technology,
Gender, and Teacher Education supported by the American Association of
University Women Educational Foundation, computer culture can be
positively transformed through the integration of girls' and womens'
insights. This is accomplished by getting more girls into the
"computer pipeline" and inviting more girls into the field by changing
the ways technology is discussed, valued and applied.
Goals of this course are based on the key recommendations resulting
from this study and are as follows:
- Highlight
the human, social and cultural dimensions and applications of
computing
- Illuminate
and change existing stereotypes about computer
scientists
- Express
the need and bountiful opportunities for women in
computing
- Show the
creative and artistic nature of programming
- Increase
technology fluency by promoting active learning that emphasizes
problem-solving and critical thinking
- Identify
the career paths women take that bring them into computers
- Enable
girls to think critically and with imagination about the world
around them
and the role or purpose of integrating technology into
society
- Impart
a more complex, realistic view of jobs, expand girls computer
uses across many disciplines
- Develop
ideas for a better marketing campaign to encourage more females
into the
profession
- Promote
ge and some
programming applications
- Focus
on girls as designers and producers of software and
games
- Start
the conversation about gender in the computer culture
- Introduce
girls to women currently pursuing computers in their
careers
Photos from the class, August 1-5, 2005
Photos from the class, February 20-24, 2006
Photos
from the class July 31-August 4, 2006
Throughout the week girls will partake in
activities
according to themes that help reach the course goals. Discussions will
arise out of these lessons in the following areas:
- Computer
Scientist stereotypes, what are they and are they accurate?
- History
and current picture of women in computers
- Why
should women pursue a career in computers?
- How
do women enter the field?
- Possible
careers with computers across all disciplines
- Media
– How to change face of computer scientists, and why
-
Public service announcements (videos)
-
Story book series
-
Presentation to parent/peers (Friday)
- Gender
equality and computers- how do girls and boys vary with
computers?
- Social
awareness – how can women affect the future use of
computers
Last update, January 4, 2007 by Marty Guenther