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A Worrisome/Hopeful Situation at One US campus. Elizabeth S. Adams adamses@jmu.edu James Madison University. Resources we Found. Chattauqua course Women and Minorities in the Sciences: A History of the Past and Strategies for the Future Curriculum Reform Institute
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A Worrisome/Hopeful Situation at One US campus Elizabeth S. Adams adamses@jmu.edu James Madison University
Resources we Found • Chattauqua course • Women and Minorities in the Sciences: A History of the Past and Strategies for the Future • Curriculum Reform Institute • Women and Science Program of the University of Wisconsin System
Creation of a Women in Science Honors Course • Topics Women in Archaeology and Anthropology Women in Engineering The Changing Role of Women in Science in Britain 1900-2000 Women in the Biotechnology Industry Women and Science on the Web Women in Communication Science and Disorders Women in Computer Science Women in Mathematics
Honors Course Topics (continued) Women in Geography Development of Nuclear Chemistry -- Marie Curie to Darlene Hoffman Women in Chemistry Women in Surgeon’s Bodies Women in Physics Course syllabus available • http://www.isat.jmu.edu/users/klevicca/wis/wis.html#syllabus
Honors Students tell us: Why I am not a Computer Scientist · I am not good in math and a lot of math is required. I want to have a social occupation. I do not want to sit in front of a computer all day. · I don't want to be stuck behind a computer all day. I want more significance to my life work. That's why I am pre-med. I want to help people directly · I am not interested in computer science. I am interested in technology and the capabilities of the computer, but I am not interested in the programming and structure of the computer. · I never had a computer at my house growing up (until about 2 years ago) and I was always the one who knew nothing about them and I never even thought about it. · I wanted to major in ISAT. I like programming but I wanted the opportunity to learn about other science areas too. · I would prefer to not spend all of my time behind a computer. But I am considering a minor in CIS to help further my business major.
Why I am not a Computer Scientist (continued) · I wanted to be in a field that has more direct contact with people. I want to interact with others and visibly make a difference in their lives. · I took AP computer science in high school and it didn't go well. Besides I love history and government. · I am so interested in the major I did choose, dietetics. I did not want to major in anything else. · I didn't want to be chained to a computer programming for life · I do not like computers enough to have a career with them. Other things interest me more. · I didn't find my high school computer science class very interesting. The field also seemed rather impersonal as opposed to people oriented. · I am more interested in Health Sciences where I can directly have one on one contact helping individuals (Speech Pathology).
Why I am not a Computer Scientist (continued) · It was never a subject that was emphasized in my early schooling. I had little access to area prior to college. · I would like a major that integrates more public relations and includes more people-people activities. · I took several programming classes in high school and it was difficult. I love to program but I wanted to major in something I felt came a little more natural. So, I decided to study CIS because it wasn’t as much programming. · It was never a subject that was emphasized in my early schooling. I had little access to area prior to college. · I want to be a music educator · I do not get a great deal of satisfaction out of working with a machine. I am a people person. I enjoy working with people and having work relationships. · I don't know why not. I used to be interested in the field. I still am, but I would rather work with computers for fun and to relax rather than to be chained down to it everyday in my job. It's not because I find it too hard but because I'm not interested in it enough for it to be a job. I'd rather have computer as a hobby.
Outcome of Women in ScienceHonors Seminar • Raised consciousness • No-one changed major • Course continues as GSCI • Gender, Science and Society • AWIS chapter formed at JMU • ISAT course entitled: Women and Minorities in Computinghttp://www.isat.jmu.edu/users/teateaa/isat440/
Other Continuing Outcomes • Woman on ACM Programming Team • Women on ACM Panel on Internships • Woman officer of ACM chapter • Efforts to reach accepted women c.s. majors • Women Undergraduate TAs
Other Continuing Activities • Bringing women to national conferences • Encouraging women to consider graduate school • Dessert Party for all women taking c.s. courses
Continuing Problems • C.S. Enrollments in general • Freshman year is too late to attract students • Too few women per class
FuturePlans • ACM chapter activities • recruiting visits to high schools • recruiting visits to middle schools • Encouraging accepted students to come to JMU • Women faculty for Introductory C.S. course (CS 139) • Continued dessert parties
International Opportunity for Continuing Efforts to Increase the Number of Women in Computer Science SIGCSE Committee Initiative