Coding4Girls

Project summary

According to the National Center for Education Statistics in the US, women just represent 18% of the university graduates in computer science. And, on top universities, this number falls to 14%. However, in 1985, 37% of computer science majors were female! This demonstrates that not only that there was no progress in achieving a higher participation of females in computer science but rather there was a steep decline. On top, computer science was the only STEM field in which female participation has dropped. And the disparity between male and female participation continues at the professional level: 80% of top-level employees in Silicon Valley are male and only 10% of the technical positions are occupied by female. In Europe the situation is even worse as reported by the European Commission: “Of 1,000 women with a Bachelors or other first degree, only 29 hold a degree in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) (as compared to 95 men), and only 4 in 1000 women will eventually work in the ICT sector”. These statistics are in striking contrast with the exploding demand for computer science graduates for fuelling the software services industries that deliver solutions for a wide range of needs in today’s and tomorrow’s technology immersed society. CODING4GIRLS addresses the gap between male and female participation in computer science education and careers by introducing early methodological learning interventions that make computer science attractive to all. CODING4GIRLS focuses on the late years of basic education and the early years of the secondary school, the age at which many girls lose interest in STEM and computer science. The project introduces interventions that target the factors that lead girls to not choose computer science, namely a) misperception of the roles and professional careers; and b) wrong assumption of insufficient skills. The project aims to attract girls by raising their awareness on the rich possibilities for professional and personal growth that computer science offers and by preparing them for future engagement in computer science careers. CODING4GIRLS introduces a design thinking pedagogical approach that is heavily linked to human-centred solutions. This approach challenges the learners to see the big picture before designing a detailed solution, encourages them to consider wider community interests, and challenges them to think entrepreneurially on how digital technologies can be used to address real-world problems. This way it is also possible to demonstrate the relation of the field to real life and, this way, but address the under achievement in computer science skills, which are part of the wider science and technology (STEM) group of competencies. CODING4GIRLS will validate the proposed learning framework through the design and development of awareness raising serious games. Learners will be encouraged to design and code games that address specific world needs or issues. A “low entry high ceiling approach” will allow learners to start with easy problems encouraging continued participation through more challenging tasks. Learners will then be presented with “half-baked” scenarios in which a solution to an actual problem is partially ready challenging learners to finish the implementation by developing small and manageable modules. Recognizing the importance that teachers and the social environment of learners play in the choice of a learner’s academic and career choices, CODING4GIRLS will further build teacher capabilities and positive perceptions and attitudes in relation the development of digital skills, in general, by developing educator support content for integrating computer science related activities into instructional practices. As such, it is expected that teachers will also become champions on the fight against the gender gap in computer science. Outcomes will be evaluated in Slovenia, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Portugal to provide a European perspective on the relevance, acceptance, and effectiveness of project methodologies and tools in diverse school, social, and business environments. In short, CODING4GIRLS aims at increasing the number of females that participate in and lead computer science business projects leading to a more diverse workforce, promoting opportunities for girls to benefit from attractive careers, and diversifying professional talent and perspectives in the computer science sector. Towards that goal, the project will foster the wider uptake of computer science education and careers by girls. About 100 teachers and 500 girls are expected to be directly involved in the project (although boys will also be involved in the project activities). Through dissemination and exploitation actions, the project will reach about 5000 persons, including other teachers, other students, educational decision makers and the general public, namely parents of girls in that age.