[ Home ]

Session 6: The Gender Divide and Minority Abyss

Notes

In this session, we will have a panel discussion about the decreased enrollment of women and minorities in computer classes and discuss what we can do to recruit, retain, and make underrepresented groups feel more comfortable in computing. The following are some interesting articles about underrepresented groups in computing and resources.

Panel Members

• Dr. Gloria Childress Townsend, Professor of Computer Science, DePauw University
• Eden Miller Medina, Assistant Professor of Informatics and Doctoral Student at MIT
• Stephanie Rose Gato, Computer Science Undergraduate

Panel Presentation: (ppt) (pdf)(pdf - with notes)

References

Out of the Classroom

The School of Informatics Summer Camp for high school students. Financial aid if you qualify.

Unlocking the Clubhouse book by Jane Margolis and Allan Fisher.

Great book on women in computing from high school to graduate studies. Jane Margolis and Alan Fischer interviewed students from local area high schools and Carnegie Mellon University students to gain perspective into the difference between how women and men perceive computing, how to recruit and retain women, and other subject areas.

Supporting Girls in Computer Science by Programming with Graphics by Karen North

Article encourages teachers to include art (i.e. graphics) in programming assignments to appeal to women and minorities.

Gender and Digital Media in the Context of a Middle School Science Project by Ricki Goldman-Segall

Study done on the roles boys and girls take in middle-school group projects.

Cohoon, J. McGrath. "Toward Improving Female Retention in the Computer Science Major" in Communications of the ACM: May 2001.

This paper has statistics on women in computing from 1971-1997. Dr. Cohoon did extensive research in women in computing and factors for recruiting and retention.

Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2002, The Division of Science Resources Statistics by the National Science Foundation.

This web site has information about percentages of women, minorities, and people with disabilities in computing. Studies done on women, minorities, and people with disabilities in high school, college, and graduate education are summarized in the report as well.

Association of Women in Science. Statistics.

This web site has statistical information on women in sciences - more specifically the number of women and men receiving undergraduate degrees.

ComputerGirl

Website created by Amy Wu for girls in high school. The site offers information about mentoring, resources, general FAQs about computer science, undergraduate studies/preparation, and future job market outlook.

Girls Tech

The Rutgers University and the Girls Scouts of America have created this site to teach people how to "evaluate electronic resources that will encourage and increase young women's interest" in computing.

GirlTECH: Getting Girls Interested in Computers

Website created by Cynthia Lanius with information about how to encouraging girls to play with computers and lots of links about women in computing.

CMU Roadshow

" This is a presentation by a group of women undergrads and grads in the school of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon who talk about their early thoughts on Computer Science, why/how they began studying the area, their current experiences, what Computer Science means to them now, and their future hopes and expectations. The presentation includes a slide show, Q and A interaction, and a simple demo. Finally the children are invited to participate in an email-penpal group organized online through the Women@SCS."

ACM-W

A committee associated with the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), a professional sociey for people in computing. The ACM-W "informs and supports women in computing." Regional, college, and high school chapters are available to establish a community for women in computing. The ACM-W has created a Pipeline website with information to assist and encourage women throughout the academic pipeline. Currently, most pipeline sites focus on middle school and high school girls.

Systers

Online email list community where women (and men, but a majority of members are women) can post questions and receive feedback from list members all over the world.

• Systers Students - for students
• Systers of color - email systers-of-color@eecs.nwu.edu or systers-of-color-request.eecs.nwu.edu
• Systers-out - L/B/T/Q Women in Computing
• Systers Academia - for people in academia.

People who make a difference: mentors and role models by Gloria Childress Townsend. ACM Press New York, NY, USA, 2002.

Paper gives advice on how to use mentors and role models to recruit and retain women in computer science.

Can Title IX Do for Women in Science and Engineering What it Has Done for Women in Sports? by Debra R. Rolison (the article is on the last page of the newsletter).

Title IX (What is Title IX?)has increased the number of women participating in sports since 1972 by ensuring women have the same athletic opportunities as men. This column proposes the creation of a law like Title IX to increase the number of women studying science.

GENDER & VIDEO TECHNOLOGY Using an Online Tool, ORION, for Digital Video Cases of Male and Female Learning by Ricki Goldman-Segall

Paper presented at one of the first Jett workshops for the gender and computing component by Ricki Goldman-Segall. The paper discusses "Genderflexing Theory" - the roles of boys and girls in groups and how the roles can change.

Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (2002 Conference) (2000 Conference) (1997 Conference) (1994 Conference)

A conference held every two years for women and men that "brings research and career interests of women to the forefront." The conference has two tracks: a technical track and a track focused on the role of women in technology. (Who is Grace Hopper?)

Central Indiana Regional Grace Hopper Conference, February 20-21, 2004 at McCormick's Creek State Park

The first Central Indiana Celebration of Women in Computing Conference is held every two years opposite the Grace Hopper Conference schedule. The conference has a technical poster session followed by panels on issues of relevance to high school, undergraduate, and graduate women in computing. Panel members consist of faculty members, students, and industry leaders.

Last year's website (including presentation)

Computer Science is Beautiful!

Pictures of the Internet (it looked like a neuron)

Look it's a neuron! No, it's modern art! Actually...it's a picture of the internet!

Pictures of Chips (like you've probably never seen before!)

• 486dx4
• VLSI/LC Device Photomicrograph
• More images can be found at: Molecular Expressions: Chip Shots,

The Inside of a Microchip (Image 1) (Image 2)

Have an old chip and want to show your students what it looks like inside? Does your microchip have a heat sink (layer of metal on top of it)? Throw the chip in the freezer for a little bit to make the bond weaker. Then, use a wood chisel or screw driver to gently pry off the heat sink.

Chip Drawings (Image)

Magic plots of three implementations of a chip to play Black Jack.

PhD Comics by Jorge Cham.

Special thanks to Jorge Cham for giving me permission to use his work for comic relief during my talk.