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Gender issues in studying Computing.

Gender issues in studying Computing. Reena Pau School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton HEA-ICS: Schools Outreach Workshop: 19 th May 2006. What am I going to talk about?. Current Situation What is computing? Gender Breakdown UK Initiatives

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Gender issues in studying Computing.

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  1. Gender issues in studying Computing. Reena Pau School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton HEA-ICS: Schools Outreach Workshop: 19th May 2006

  2. What am I going to talk about? • Current Situation • What is computing? • Gender Breakdown • UK Initiatives • Tried and Tested Solutions • What is important to get women into Computing? • Conclusion

  3. Current Situation Slide Classroom/Home GEEKY!!! Bio -Technology ????? Agents Artificial Intelligence Semantic Web Facts from the stats! • Women can do and enjoy the course. • Women make good IT Professionals. • The future IT Profession is less technical and will require more people skills.

  4. So what is the real computing? • Helps Learning • Learning Technologies Group • Enables Communication • Agents/ Semantic Web • Saves Lives • Bio-Technology • Security • Biometrics – fingerprinting Computing solves real life problems creatively

  5. Numbers into higher education

  6. Gender Breakdown (Statistics)

  7. UK Initiatives 1980-1990 • 1967 – 1980 CS courses starting up • proportions of women similar to Maths, about 25-35% • 1982-1986 swift national change in CS courses • 1988 WiC Conference – national move to workshops for girls • 1990 WiC conference – reported interest/enjoyment Current • Computer Clubs for Girls • BCSWomen • Setwomen Resource UK • Womenintechnology.co.uk • Equaliteq • Set4Women • Athena

  8. Tried and Tested Carnegie Mellon – United States • Carnegie Mellonfemales in computing: 7%  41% (1995-2000) • Women@SCS Range of activities including. • The CM Road Show  STUDENTS • Lectures  TEACHERS • Interaction  ORGANISATIONS Diversity is an ongoing process rather than a project Soton/Staff Action Research • Southampton – schools in Hampshire and London Docklands • Repeated interventions longer periods of time • Staffordshire schools • Loaded the success story, successful visits to industry, role models, longer periods of time • followed with questionnaires • No worries about doing other careers using computers, BUT NOT IT courses

  9. What is important to get women into Computing? • Role Models • Computing Experience • Self-confidence • Family

  10. Role Models My Role Models when I was little Successful Cool My friends Liked them as well Confident Inspirational

  11. Computing Experience School Computer Graphics Web Site Designer Computer Games Designer Programmers MS Word MS Excel Industry

  12. Self-confidence Its not really for me…. Its for clever people I am not good at it I don’t understand much

  13. Family I’ve been sitting in Front of the computer all day and I am shattered… Why not do something You will enjoy? You don’t want to spend your life in front of a computer do you…..

  14. So what does this all mean? • Image and perceptions put people off computing. • We can’t change the way the world is….but we can influence the people who matter (I don’t mean Tony Blair)!!! • Diversity isn’t just a one off scheme or project – it is something that is on going. • This is an industry and people issue  not just a gender issue.

  15. Who are we looking for? We are looking for the: • Best of the best • Creative • Social Skills • Problem solving skills • Visionary • Enthusiastic

  16. Conclusion Challenging Hip Inspiring Creative We have to show computing for what it really is:

  17. Thank you Any Questions?

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