THE GENDER GAP - ANOTHER DIGITAL DIVIDE?

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THE GENDER GAP - ANOTHER DIGITAL DIVIDE?
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Tech-Savvy Educating Girls in the New
Computer Age

• A review of the report published by the American
  Association of University Women Educational
  Foundation
• 2000

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Presented by Willie Pattilloin fulfillment of
requirements for Education for a Democratic,
Pluralistic Society - EDTE 251Summer session,
2003
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Click here to view an Executive Summary of this
report.Click here to view an Executive Summary
of previous research on the gender gap in school.
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This report is the result of two years of work by
the AAUW Educational Foundation Commission on
Technology
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The commission of fourteen people

• used an on-line survey of 900 teachers
• conducted focus group research with more than 70
  girls
• reviewed the existing research
• brought in their own expertise as researchers,
  educators, journalists, and entrepreneurs

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The commission found that girls were not only
underrepresented in computer classes and
technology fields, but that there were other,
boarder issues of concern.
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According to the report, females represent

• 17 of students taking the AP Computer Science
  test
• 20 of IT professionals
• less than 28 of the computer science bachelors
  degrees
• 9 of the recipients of engineering-related
  bachelors degrees

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It is interesting to note that the percentage of
women receiving bachelors degrees in computer
science actually decreased nine percentage points
in the eight years prior to the report.
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KEY FINDINGS
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Girls have concerns about

• the types of software available
• the way technology classes are taught
• the goals for using computer technology

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Teachers have concerns about

• the quality of educational software
• the lack of quality professional development
• the lack of prompt and adequate technical
  assistance

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The commission found

• females have been labeled computer-phobic
  because they are not well represented in
  technology classes and clubs
• girls most often are enrolled in courses on
  computer tools

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CONCLUSIONS
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Software

• all software should feature simulation, strategy
  and interaction without being redundant or
  violent
• software themes should be universal, not gender
  specific

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Computer Literacy

• all students should be trained in computer
  skills, the how and why of technology, and in
  the use of technology to solve complex problems
  or to complete multi-faceted projects
• use of technology must take place across the
  curriculum

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Computer Education

• teachers must be trained to develop and use
  classroom material and teaching styles that
  incorporate all aspects of computer technology
• stakeholders in the educational community must be
  educated on issues of equality and technology

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Career Education

• emphasis must be placed on the increasing use of
  technology in all career fields
• the social and interactive aspects of the use of
  technology in the world of work must be
  emphasized
• females must be actively recruited for high-tech
  positions

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When it comes to todays computer culture, the
bottom line is that while more girls are on the
train, they arent the ones driving.
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To get girls under the hood of technology,
they need to see that it gets them where they
want to go. And for a large part of the
population, that process must start in the
classroom. Pamela Haag AAUW Foundation
Director