Actively Recruit Girls to CS

Joanne McGrath CohoonUVA Associate ProfessorNCWIT Senior Research Scientist

Minnesota Tapestry Workshop August 7, 2012

USEFUL MESSAGES FOR RECRUITING WOMEN & MINORITY MEN

Conditions needed for choice

Interest

Expected positive outcome

Achievement activity choices

Expectation of success is crucial

Ignite your students’ interest

Girls more than boys are interested in

» Helping people» Saving the planet E.g., Neri Oxman, a

computational architect, designed this “structural skin” for buildings

An example for those interested in health fields

An example for those interested in fashion or helping the handicapped

Help girls get what they wantBelong, with potential to have status

in group» NCWIT Award for Aspirations in

Computing» Recruit groups instead of individuals

Fulfill role - conform to expectations» Computing is social» Computing helps people» Computing helps the nation» Computing lets you give back to your

community

Effective messages depend in part on cultureFlexibility: industry, geographicSocially relevant Work with othersTime with familyJob projections High salariesSatisfied professionals

Computer Scientists work in every industry

10

Source: dotdiva.org

Computing offers exciting work that affects our world and the people in it

Create technology for

• Tracking endangered dolphins• Mobile forensics labs for instant analysis

at crime scenes• GPS systems that guide blind people• Scanning DNA for childhood diseases• Designing and displaying new fashions• Restoring and preserving art work

Source: dotdiva.org

Computer Scientists give back to their communitiesTechnology for human rights• Design secure databases to

record human rights abuses while shielding the identities of victims or witnesses

• Create tools that help ordinary people collect extraordinary amounts of money for important causes

1. Software Engineer2. Mathematician3. Actuary4. Statistician5. Computer Systems Analyst

According to CareerCast

Best Jobs in America 2011

Take care what you communicateBeware of communicating or reinforcing stereotypesAvoid comparisons of girls with boys

Refrain from implying only geniuses succeed in CS

Do many young women want to turn into Dilbert, a nerd, a geek??

Who will think your joke is funny?

Avoid mythbusting, geeks, cubicles, code monkeys, …May actually create stereotypes

» Forget detailsOnce implanted, difficult to dislodge

See “How Warnings about False Claims Become Recommendations” www.acrwebsite.org/topic.asp?artid=250

“I’ve heard that before so it must be true”

Messages Embedded in Activities, Messenger, ImagesRobots

» Saving lives v. fun or competition Young women talking to girls

» Greater sense of “possible self”» Greater chance that language choices

and understanding will be similarPhotos on posters

» People rather than things» Teams that are mostly girls

Help students expect success

Hear itSee itFeel it

Consider Influencers

Sons Persevere to meet future

family responsibilities

DaughtersBe happy in career

choice

Parents’ Ranking of Hopes for Kids

Inform & enlist guidance counselors

NCWIT C4C campaign equips counselors » Up-to-date information » Resources for effective advising

Brought to you by the K-12 Alliance of NCWIT

Gender & Computing

Joanne McGrath CohoonUVA Associate ProfessorNCWIT Senior Research Scientist

More Resources

http://www.ncwit.org/edjobsmap

Finally

Remember to track and report your outcomes

Now that you know

Go beyond the already interested

Get more and diverse students

ROLE PLAY CONVERSATION WITH STUDENT

NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology

Our coalition includes more than 250 universities, corporations, and non-profits.

Mobilizing for Change: NCWIT