Encouraging Girls to Participate in Computer Science
TA/CS-SIG 20-Minute Rundown
TCEA’s Technology Applications & Computer Science Special Interest Group (TA/CS-SIG) Secretary/Treasurer
Educational Technology Coordinator, Georgetown ISD, Georgetown, Texas
Former High School Computer Science and Webmastering Teacher
Presenter: Kim Garcia
What Percentage of Your Computer Science Students are Female?
87%
13%
Kim's CS EnrollmentMale Female
Did You Know?
In elementary school, girls like science as much as boys do
Girls and boys who take the AP Computer Science exam score equally
Source: Edudemic, “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?”, by Katie Lepi, October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
Reasons Girls Might Be Avoiding Computer Science
1. Girls’ Perception of Computer Science Computer Science doesn’t help people Computer scientists are geeky guys who
like to be alone at a computer or with a gaming console
Girls don’t feel they fit in to the computer science classroom / environment
Sources: Edudemic, “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?”, by Katie Lepi, October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
“Ambient belonging: how stereotypical cues impact gender participation in computer science,” by Cheryan, Plaut, Davies, and Steele, December 2009 http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/a0016239
Reasons Girls Might Be Avoiding Computer Science
2. Girls’ Perception of Their Own Abilities Girls feel people are born with fixed
abilities, especially in math. Girls often give up instead of working through difficulties.
Girls perceive boys’ bravado or boasting means that boys are more knowledgeable than girls
Sources: Mind/Shift, “Giving Good Praise to Girls: What Messages Stick”, by Katrina Schwartz, April 24, 2013 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/04/giving-good-praise-to-girls-what-messages-stick/
Featuring the research of Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. https://www.stanford.edu/dept/psychology/cgi-bin/drupalm/system/files/cdweckmathgift.pdf
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
1. Recruitment Reach out to female students through collaborative projects with
campus clubs/organizations and classes Recruit friend groups so female students won’t feel isolated Current female students visit other classes to explain how
computer science relates Meet with guidance counselors, teachers, and parents to share
opportunities in computer science
Source: NCWIT, “Top 10 Ways of Recruiting High School Women into Your Computing Classes” https://www.ncwit.org/resources/top-10-ways-recruiting-high-school-women-your-computing-classes/top-10-ways-recruiting
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
2. Make People Aware of Stereotypes Discuss stereotypes with all students and find out what they
consider a stereotypical computer scientist to be Dispel the stereotype Help students understand how computer science helps people Be conscious that your students may not want to think of
themselves as nerds or geeks
Sources:NCWIT, “Top 10 Ways of Recruiting High School Women into Your Computing Classes” https://www.ncwit.org/resources/top-10-ways-recruiting-high-school-women-your-computing-classes/top-10-ways-recruiting
Edudemic, “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?”, by Katie Lepi, October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
3. Show Female Role Models Discuss pioneering and prominent women in the field of
computer science Invite former female computer science students to speak Invite local female computer scientists to speak.
• Make connections through your city’s Chamber of Commerce or through one of the Top 10 Women in Tech Organizations: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/10-women-in-tech-orgs-you-should-know_b_4005325.html
Sources:NCWIT, “Top 10 Ways of Recruiting High School Women into Your Computing Classes” https://www.ncwit.org/resources/top-10-ways-recruiting-high-school-women-your-computing-classes/top-10-ways-recruiting
Edudemic, “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?”, by Katie Lepi, October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
4. Decorate Classroom with Non-Stereotypical Objectsx Star Trek and video games Nature posters and phone books• Some images that include women: computing leaders,
group pictures of students
Sources:NCWIT, “Top 10 Ways of Recruiting High School Women into Your Computing Classes” https://www.ncwit.org/resources/top-10-ways-recruiting-high-school-women-your-computing-classes/top-10-ways-recruiting
“Ambient belonging: how stereotypical cues impact gender participation in computer science,” by Cheryan, Plaut, Davies, and Steele, December 2009 http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/a0016239
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
5. Praise and Encouragement for Girls and Boys Emphasize that computer science skills are learned
through a process of setbacks and overcoming challenges Praise students for:
• The process or strategy they are using to think through a problem or a segment of code
• Taking on a challenge and sticking to it
Sources:Mind/Shift, “Giving Good Praise to Girls: What Messages Stick”, by Katrina Schwartz, April 24, 2013 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/04/giving-good-praise-to-girls-what-messages-stick/
NCWIT, “Top 10 Ways of Recruiting High School Women into Your Computing Classes” https://www.ncwit.org/resources/top-10-ways-recruiting-high-school-women-your-computing-classes/top-10-ways-recruiting
Edudemic, “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?”, by Katie Lepi, October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
6. Social and Hands-on Learning Activities Pair programming Promote social and teamwork aspects of
computer science in a blended learning environment (Schoology, Edmodo)
Source: Edudemic, “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?”, by Katie Lepi, October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
7. Computer Science Camps & Internships for Girls University of Texas at Austin’s FirstBytes camp https://
www.cs.utexas.edu/outreach/first-bytes NCWIT Aspirations in Computing
https://www.aspirations.org/participate/opportunities
Ways to Encourage Girls to Join or Stay in Computer Science
8. Introduce Programming Early Code.org’s Hour of Code at Grades K-8 Texas Technology Applications TEKS Grades K-2,
3-5, and 6-8 require that students be exposed to programming languages
Free Apps and Websites: Kodable (iPad), Hopscotch (iPad), Scratch, Alice
Robotics: play-i Bo & Yana, Lego Mindstorms Board Games: Robot Turtles
Source: Edudemic, “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?”, by Katie Lepi, October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
Why Diversity is Important in Computer Science
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education: “More Gender Diversity Will Mean Better Science,” by Sue V. Rosser, October 29, 2012 http://chronicle.com/article/More-Gender-Diversity-Will/135310/
May lead to innovation. People bring different approaches to problem solving.
Women have invented technologies useful in child care, for example, because of their unique experiences
More diversity (gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background) helps guard against bias and may lead to new ideas that will improve life for everyone
Help boys and girls understand why diversity is important. Don’t exclude or marginalize boys in your quest to recruit and retain girls!
Women in Computer Science Resources University of Texas at Austin’s FirstBytes camp
https://www.cs.utexas.edu/outreach/first-bytes
National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT): http://www.ncwit.org/
NCWIT Aspirations in Computing https://www.aspirations.org/participate/opportunities
UT Austin’s Women in Engineering Program on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/utwep/
Huffington Post: “10 Women in Tech Orgs You Should Know” by Craig Newmark on September 27, 2013 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/10-women-in-tech-orgs-you-should-know_b_4005325.html
American Association of University Women (AAUW) supports computer science education – find your local group: http://www.aauw.org/article/hour-of-code/
Introduce Programming EarlyResources Code.org’s Hour of Code http://code.org/
Texas Technology Applications TEKS http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter126/
Kodable app (iPad) http://www.surfscore.com/
Hopscotch app (iPad) https://www.gethopscotch.com/
Scratch http://scratch.mit.edu/
Alice http://www.alice.org/
play-i https://www.play-i.com/
Lego Mindstorms http://mindstorms.lego.com
Robot Turtles http://www.robotturtles.com/
Presentation Resources
Edudemic: “Why Are Girls Not Pursuing Computer Science Degrees?” by Katie Lepi on October 12, 2013 http://www.edudemic.com/girls-computer-science-degrees/
NCWIT: “Top 10 Ways of Recruiting High School Women into Your Computing Classes” https://www.ncwit.org/resources/top-10-ways-recruiting-high-school-women-your-computing-classes/top-10-ways-recruiting
Mind/Shift: “Giving Good Praise to Girls: What Messages Stick” by Katrina Schwartz on April 24, 2013 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/04/giving-good-praise-to-girls-what-messages-stick/
Huffington Post: “10 Women in Tech Orgs You Should Know” by Craig Newmark on September 27, 2013 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/10-women-in-tech-orgs-you-should-know_b_4005325.html
The Chronicle of Higher Education: “More Gender Diversity Will Mean Better Science” by Sue V. Rosser on October 29, 2012 http://chronicle.com/article/More-Gender-Diversity-Will/135310/
The Stereotypical Computer Scientist: Gendered Media Representations as a Barrier to Inclusion for Women http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11199-013-0296-x
Ambient belonging: How stereotypical cues impact gender participation in computer science http://psycnet.apa.org/?&fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/a0016239
Questions & Discussion + Connect with Kim, TCEA, & TA/CS-SIG Questions & Discussion
Connect with Kim Garcia– Twitter: @DigitalLearners– Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/digitallearners/computer-science-education/
–Diigo: https://www.diigo.com/user/digitallearners/Computer_Science
Connect with TCEA: http://www.tcea.org/
Join TA/CS-SIG: http://www.tcea.org/membership/sigs/tacs-sig