Digital Divas: Putting The Wow Into Computing For Girls (education)
by Helen Forgasz /
2016 / English / PDF
3.8 MB Download
There is ample literature detailing the general lack of interest
that girls show in computing, particularly in their later teen
years, along with the subsequent decline in the number of women who
enter the information technology (IT) workforce. In 2007, to
address this problem, a new and revolutionary program was designed
by Australian researchers to excite girls' interest in IT. The
program was called 'Digital Divas' and it was unique because it ran
in schools as part of the school curriculum. The underlying
philosophy of 'Digital Divas' was to provide educationally sound
materials that tapped into the interest of girls, delivered in
all-girl classes within the school curriculum so as to change
girls' perceptions of IT careers. The pilot program was a success
and this led to the design of a larger project, the outcomes of
which are the subject of this book. A significant amount of pre-
and post- qualitative and quantitative data was collected from both
teachers and students. A number of focus groups were conducted, one
or two years after the girls had undertaken 'Digital Divas'. As a
result, the researchers were able to conclusively demonstrate,
among other things, that such a program can increase girls'
self-efficacy with IT, change their stereotypical image of IT being
for men and boys only, and have them seriously consider IT as a
career option. The book details the rationale and motivation for
developing 'Digital Divas', the evaluation planning and framework
which underpinned both the design of the program and the research,
the research approach and data gathered, and the results. The wider
impact of the program is also discussed. *** Librarians: ebook
available (Series: Education) [Subject: Education, Computer
Technology, Gender Studies, Youth Studies]
There is ample literature detailing the general lack of interest
that girls show in computing, particularly in their later teen
years, along with the subsequent decline in the number of women who
enter the information technology (IT) workforce. In 2007, to
address this problem, a new and revolutionary program was designed
by Australian researchers to excite girls' interest in IT. The
program was called 'Digital Divas' and it was unique because it ran
in schools as part of the school curriculum. The underlying
philosophy of 'Digital Divas' was to provide educationally sound
materials that tapped into the interest of girls, delivered in
all-girl classes within the school curriculum so as to change
girls' perceptions of IT careers. The pilot program was a success
and this led to the design of a larger project, the outcomes of
which are the subject of this book. A significant amount of pre-
and post- qualitative and quantitative data was collected from both
teachers and students. A number of focus groups were conducted, one
or two years after the girls had undertaken 'Digital Divas'. As a
result, the researchers were able to conclusively demonstrate,
among other things, that such a program can increase girls'
self-efficacy with IT, change their stereotypical image of IT being
for men and boys only, and have them seriously consider IT as a
career option. The book details the rationale and motivation for
developing 'Digital Divas', the evaluation planning and framework
which underpinned both the design of the program and the research,
the research approach and data gathered, and the results. The wider
impact of the program is also discussed. *** Librarians: ebook
available (Series: Education) [Subject: Education, Computer
Technology, Gender Studies, Youth Studies]