“Making movies is incredibly
tedious…incredibly, mindnumbingly slow.” — Famous actor
(image too expensive)
Yet, few people think film acting is boring.
Not because it isn’t, but because it’s never
portrayed that way.
Computer Science has the opposite problem.
FACTS:
• The typical starting salary for a graduate with a BS in
computing is over $60K.
• There are more jobs in computing than there are
students graduating with computing degrees—even in
this economy!
QUESTION:
Why aren’t more students choosing to go into careers in
computing?
Degree Production vs. Job Openings
Ph.D.
Master’s
Bachelor’s
Projected job openings
Engineering
Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Computer Science
Adapted from a presentation by John Sargent, Senior Policy Analyst, Department of Commerce, at the
CRA Computing Research Summit, February 23, 2004. Original sources listed as NSF/SRS; degree
data from Ed/NCES: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Completions Survey; and
NSF/SRS; Survey of Earned Doctorates; and Projected Annual Average Job Openings derived from
Department of Commerce (Office of Technology Policy) analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics 20022012 projections. See: cra.org/govaffairs/content.php?cid=22.
Research
ACM, NCWIT, and WGBH asked the questions:
• What do college-bound teens think about computing?
• What are they looking for in a career?
• What are educators, counselors, and CS professionals
telling teens about computing?
Market research
• Nationwide survey 12/08
• 1400 college-bound teens
ages 13-17
• Represent college
freshman nationally:
–geographically
–ethnically
–socio-economically
Computing as a career
• Boys (74%) think
computing is a very good
or good choice
c
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• Only 32% of girls ranked
it as a very good or good
choice, with no
significant difference in
ethnicity
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Gender disparity
• Boys of all ethnicities have a largely equally good
image of computing; girls do not
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• Significant gender disparity in the field
- fewer than 30% of computing graduates
nationally are women
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Why diversity is essential
• Equality of access, as ethical principle.
• Greater diversity among creators means greater
relevance to and usability by wider range of people.
• Shortage of software developers means we can’t
afford to ignore women
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• Computing requires a combination of skills, creativity,
and temperament—makes it critical to look for talent
in as wide a population as possible.
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Words girls associate with CS
E t h n ic it y
What teens want from a career
80%
Doing work that you
find interesting
77%
64%
Being passionate about
your job
78%
54%
53%
Being able to spend time with
your family
Having the power to do good and doing
work that makes a difference
47%
56%
47%
48%
Having job
security
Having the power to
make things happen
46%
44%
50%
Earning a high
salary
39%
Working in a field with lots of job
opportunities
39%
38%
Having an opportunity to
express yourself creatively
35%
39%
Boys
Girls
Key career attributes for girls
• Being passionate about their
job
• Doing interesting work
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• Making a difference
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Current image of computing
• Not a field that is helping
humanity
• Not creative
• Not collaborative
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• Boring!
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They get the messages we send
What CS Folk Say
What Girls Hear
Coding
Algorithms
Robots
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Software
Programming
So what?
E t h n ic it y
We have identified the enemy...it is us
HS Girls
- Enjoying whatI do
- Good working envir onment
- Making a difference
- Good income
- Flexibility
Computing Community
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- It’s a challenge
lt but rewarding
- It’s difficu
e
- Use math & science to solv
problems
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Typical images
Medicine
Which do think a young
woman would rather do?
Why?
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Computer Science
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Women in computing...
• Have the power and the passion to make a difference.
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• Believe in the potential of computing to build a better
world.
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Messages that resonate
• Creativity
– Music apps
– Movie animation
– Fashion design software
• Connecting People
– Media that bring people together
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• Changing the World
– Saving lives
– Protecting the environment
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Changing the message
The research offers information, strategies, and tools to
help each of us change the way we talk about the field
and the image we’re sharing about computing.
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As we distinguish our particular interests, programs, and
areas of research, the New Image for Computing
approach provides a framework for doing so in ways that
will attract the diverse audiences we’re trying to reach.
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How and why
Don’t ...
Focus on how a student gets into computing; how they
actually create a program; or how someone in
computing does his/her particular job.
Instead...
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Focus on why a student should consider computing;
why people create programs; and why someone in
computing cares about his/her work.
E t h n ic it y
Some examples follow
Describing a job in computing
1. I develop algorithms to simulate the excitation on
electrode arrays using a microcontroller for a
cochlear implant.
2. I develop software for a cochlear implant that helps
people who are deaf to hear.
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Which is likely to interest more kids?
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Promoting a computing course
1. The C++ curriculum consists of a sequence of
lessons covering topics such as variables, input,
output, IF-else and Boolean logic...constructors and
destructors, and graphics. As a culminating activity,
students select among a list of advanced projects
such as Tetris, Tic-Tac-Toe, Checkers, Connect Four,
or Tron.
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2. C++ is one of the most widely used programming
languages in the world. (Its name reflects the fact
that it evolved from an earlier C language.) It’s used
in a variety of ways, including entertainment software
such as video games. In this course you’ll gain
valuable skills that can lay the groundwork for a
creative and lucrative career.
E t h n ic it y
Advertising a robotics club
Fun with Robots
Fun with Robots is
intended to introduce
robotics.
To do well in Fun with
Robots, you should
have:
Can a robot really do that?
What’s your passion?
• A robot that cleans your room
• Virtual nurse ‘bots to help patients
• Robots that sweep for mines in war
zones
• A robotic music accompanist
– motivation to learn how to make
robots do interesting things.
– some programming experience,
especially in C.
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Join us and
see what
you can
create!
Sound interesting? For more details,
come to Rm 177 on Tuesdays at 3:30.
Rm 177 on Tuesdays at 3:30.
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Advertising other kinds of activities
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Image matters
Rather than
Computing involves more
than just computers.
a g e
e n t
c
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Try
• Feature people just
slightly older than the
target audience (people
they can relate to)
• Diversity
• Collaboration
• Creativity
• Relevance
E t h n ic it y
What about computational thinking?
Once you shared why you are passionate
about computing and what life is like as a
computer scientist, then you can fill them in
about the requirements. But remember to put it
in to context.
“I love the fact that I can use basic math and geometry to build
something that directly helps people.
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-Claudia Gold , building houses for the homeless using
algorithms
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Resources that can help
• Database of free images of real young women in
computing that can be used to create posters,
brochures, flyers, etc.
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• Can be used for:
– After-school programs
– Recruiting for classes
– Summer camps
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dotdiva.org
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More resources
Brochures
Posters
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Webinars
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Facebook Community
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Results we can use
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Market-tested messages
National outreach and multimedia resources
Far-reaching and diverse coalition of partners
Tested and appealing image of computing
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•
•
•
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Get involved
• Align your own outreach & diversity efforts with the
messages that appeal to girls
• Inform others (use & customize this PPT; use student
PPT for girls)
• Host a table at conferences, college fairs, and open
houses to share information about your programs
e n t
a g e
• Link to DotDiva.org
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• Distribute free brochures & posters from Dot Diva
• Questions? Email dotdiva@wgbh.org
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