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