Friday, October 06, 2006

Priming the Pipeline: Girls Speak out about Pre-College Computer Science

Priming the Pipeline: Girls Speak out about Pre-College Computer Science
Michelle Hutton (CSTA), Moderator

Amy Wu (Stanford University

Sophie Keller (The Girls Middle School)

Brittany Reeve

Madeleine Minor

Brittany Reeve
Catholic High school
Sophie Keller
girls middle school
started in 4th &5th grade
sally ride science camp
Madeleine Minor
Henry M. Gunn HS
CS in MS at Girls MS
Amy Wu
Sr. at Stanford
computergirl website: http://www.computergirl.us/
Homestead HS

What CS at your school? & what does it mean?
B: semester long java, web design

S: girls MS mandatory
6&7, problem solving
web design
binary

M: is a cs class, not that many taking them
programming video games

A: had 2 cs classes offered
carol the robot and C++
now teach java

from the moderator, Michelle
teaches at Girls MS
6th intro application use, basic problem solving, some HTML
7th robotics, web design, stagecast creator
8th flash, perl

the use of computers starts very early here (CA) now
email, ppt, etc
How much are you required to use the computer?
B: MS Word for everything
lots of PPT
flowcharts
sometimes use geometry software
free time: html & java,

S: Word, PPT,
7th grade, excel for businesses

M: computer run since she was little
mom inspired
typed in 5th grade
PPT in 5th
some HTML

A: 5th did book reports using computers to type
MS did lots of typing (mandatory)
then got more important in school

What level of math have you guys taken? Do you like them? Does that tie in with you liking CS?
Amy: by end of HS, taken calc. Thinks helps. Problem solving and formulation
algorithms, analysis

Madeline:
AP stats
have to remember little things or lose pts
relates to java, flash, & html. IF you don't remember the small things, it won't work

Sophie:
Algebra
really connected
solving problems
helps you go through the process
binary

Brittany:
trig and precal
not that much connection, but problem solving is connected

Do boys use computers in a different way from you?
no clue...all girls school

all girls, but guys do more game & video game
more focused on games, not basics
she uses the internet

guys have helped connect to CS. they are ecstatic about it
she's more attracted to connections with people
her dad plays quake

boys use comp for gaming, although that's changing now
use for internet, reading news, online communities

How use computer at home? Influence of Parents?
Amy: Dad is engineer. Helped her by giving her an early introduction.
You can do it...you should try it.

M: Mom is a hardcore business woman. Presentations. Email. Laptop obsessed. Taught get on computer, keep up to date with technology. Ahead of classmates

S: Dad is CS. he gave a computer when she was <6. That helped her enjoy. Parents both Comp obsessed

B: parents are engineers. But didn't need encouragement. Now told to get off of comp

Do any go to public schools? M, A
What are core requirements?
not required. It's an elective. Not publicized. One of guy friends mentioned it and she didn't even know

counselor’s didn’t encourage. little guidance from above

lots of requirements, so little time for electives.

usually ½ electives is language

wants to do theatre , so other elective is theatre

Amy wasn’t required.

hard to fit in

How were teachers in public schools?

A: had great teacher. Encouraging. Knew lots about CS.

M: Hears things that the CS teacher is great.

Laptops? What is it to you?

B: family computer. Mac G5. Online & programming a lot. Occasionally Games.

S: own computer. Internet, word, ppt, text messaging

M: laptop Dell. very big part of her life. rarely goes over 1 hr from home without it. writes on it…papers, notes, myspace & facebook, entire music collection

A: dorm room on fire. only save laptop. on computer all the time. Work, email, playing with technology.

Admin for CMU Outreach program

Teach MS and HS girls

Where did you learn about safe computing, internet? etc

Concerned giving fire without management

S: one teacher gave lecture on myspace or internet

B: never give out last name, location, personal information. people told her & came naturally?

M: father is overprotective. 2 girls on internet. Comes into room randomly. “Make sure you know who these people are…”

A: Wish had something like that. When she first started. AOL & AIM (in MS) no one told her about it. Learned through watching TV shows (sister, sister) & news. Gave out address online to a stranger. Nothing happened, but should let students know about dangers.

What has been strongest influence in making you enjoy CS?

A: learning more about it. Taking a class. Very different from other stuff in school. Took Java in summer for fun. Realization was that it was fun

M: MS. When website looked perfect. Knew how it worked and why. She had accomplished something. “Wow. This is really cool.”

S: 4th & 5th made movies and fun things on CS> Fun experience with CS has brought her to do more. Results are intriguing and feel like an accomplishment.

B: Michelle. Great teacher. Had never considered PC as more than just a word processor

If you could make design changes to laptops, what would you do? If there was an application you could design, what would you do?

B: Hardware, doesn’t know. Software, word processor between word and notepad (NO AUTOCORRECT)

S: wouldn’t change anything about computers. reality tv show about people in computer science. it’s a way to get people into computer science audience comment:(discovery channel is starting & the coderoom)

A: depends on age group. for younger, application that’s less confusing: did you want to upload? More choices instead of menus. Tutorials to understand how to use computer to max advantage.

Talked about software. Any been exposed to sysadmin stuff?

S: Michelle gave them hardware to take apart and talk about.

B: loves adding hardware to computer i.e. RAM. Can TA for computer lab? Mostly drudge work. Robotics club. That’s where you go to take things apart. First chance was spring cleanup (dump things on curb). Since wander around streets, take all electronics and take things apart.

A: building own computers. mostly boys come into college having built PCs, seems like a huge feat. Not that hard. Wish more people had chance to build in MS or HS. Would make CS seem easier. “It’s really not that hard if you just try.”

There aren’t many people like you. What are the factors keeping people out, esp women.

A: lots of friends are scared. “I can’t do computer science, I don’t even know what it is…maybe I’ll just take a chem. class instead.” big commitment if you don’t know about it. Summer classes are lower pressure, not using school time

M: people don’t know about it that much. “I don’t know what computer science is.” Will fill a requirement

S: Making it mandatory is good. More people would feel successful.

B: girls aren’t encouraged to go into math. but encouraged for creative things and science. “It doesn’t have that connection in people’s heads.”

How use computers to change the world or make an impact what would you do?

B: Website. Anyone in the world can look at it. Makes widgets that are up for download. Statistics on website.

M: is a gamer. thinks video games are cool. dad came up to her while playing a game and told her she could make them herself. She wants to take classes in college and create games

A: if you can think of a problem, there’s probably a way to solve it with computer science. or at least a part of it. there are so many ways to use it. “CS is just so versatile.”

What out of school informal experiences have you had that have encouraged you?

A: took classes at local Community colleges or with computer companies. Did some certification programs. Ungraded, low pressure. That was very important. Fun without pressure. All coed

M: Very encouraged by both parents. Got her a book. teach yourself visually HTML book.

S: Sally Ride Science Camp for Girls at Stanford: Robotics, Astronomy, Microbiology. Move robots move forward. Robosoccer.

B: IDTechCamps. Lots more boys than girls. Most girls in web design. She was taking C++. Only girls her and her friend. Now takes Java at Foothill (online). Last semester was pretty even. Get more from different teachers.

What is web design?

B: dreamweaver and html

S: made websites. engineering and CS. html and dreamweaver

A: in HS worked on websites with html, js, and sql

Q for moderator: What happened at Girls Middle School that this is so great?

Michelle: all girls & private. one of 5 mission points was STEM. school has become known for that. don’t do it to exclusion of other things. There are lots of teachers who are trying to do these things. Recruitment is REALLY hard. Some things are unique ie. perl. Lots of other stuff is available, but kids have to seek it out.

M’s principal: there’s a set of beliefs which is that it’s the adults obligation that the kids be exposed to everything i.e. ceramics and wood shop. The kids shouldn’t have to choose before being exposed.

Q for Amy: Is op to take CS class open to friends – do they think they can?

good introductory sequence. ops if you don’t have experience. no experience required. Lots of UG TAs. Still hard for people to take the first step. You do have more choices in college, but there’s a huge fear.

her prof: in the 90s, (running course as pump, not a filter), 75% of Stanford took intro cs class. Dropped to about 45%. There’s a change in attitude that they’re up against (moving to econ)

Have you ever thought about integration? CS goes with everything. Double majoring or minoring.

M: theatre major (acting/directing and stage tech) CS is almost required for tech side of things. You have to deal with the programs. Thinking of taking a few classes. Not sure about minoring, but definitely thinks will be a strong component to stage tech education

any other HSers in room

Michelle close:

poster in conference bag. goal of poster is to reach out to students who mightn’t have interest in IT.

how get more? Chris Stevenson (head of CSTA) She can get you more

number of csta membership brochures

csta: guide for policy makers

new educational imperative (a book)

brochure about computing degrees and careers, aimed at HSers. Not all going offshore. Not all boring.

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