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- Title
Sparking Girls' Interest in Technology: The NSF Tri-IT Project.
- Authors
Morris, LaDonna K.; Austin, Linda J.; Davis, Amaya M.
- Abstract
The Tri-Regional Information Technology (Tri-IT) research project was a $1.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that sought to address gender inequality by providing after-school technology experiences to high school girls (n = 360). A treatment group of 180 girls in six high schools in North Florida was compared to a control group of 180 girls. Schools targeted were high minority, low socioeconomic status (SES) schools. Students in the treatment group received 280 hours of IT instruction, including three 40-hour summer academies and 40 hours of after-school instruction each fall and spring for two years. Staff administered three pre- and post- assessments to each treatment and control group student: the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, Computer Attitude Questionnaire, and TechLiteracy Assessment. Findings indicate gains in knowledge and confidence, and paradoxically, a decrease in interest and motivation, possibly due to a time of year effect. Thirteen curriculum modules, summer academies, and podcasts are available for public dissemination at www.t3girls.com. The educational modules were designed to spark girls' interest by employing constructivist learning principles, feminist pedagogies, and a multicultural curriculum. The purpose of the study was to advance the currently limited understanding of how to increase girls' interest, skills, and confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and information technology (IT) in particular. The project was especially significant as few women, and even fewer women of color, pursue careers in the lucrative field of IT.
- Subjects
TECHNOLOGY; NATIONAL Science Foundation (U.S.); GENDER inequality; EQUALITY; HIGH school girls; GIRLS
- Publication
National Social Science Journal, 2013, Vol 39, Issue 2, p60
- ISSN
2154-1736
- Publication type
Article