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Squeaking Their Way into Computer Technology: A Study of Middle School Girls and Creative Computer Programming
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, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States

EdMedia + Innovate Learning, in Montreal, Canada ISBN 978-1-880094-56-3 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), Waynesville, NC

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Abstract

This paper explains the design, implementation, and impact of a 7-session workshop held to expose non-computer savvy middle school students to basic computer programming principles. The purpose of this study was to explore how exposure to an interactive, graphical programming environment could affect the perceptions that middle school girls have towards computer programming. Results of this study suggest that even a limited exposure to a creative programming environment can not only provide students with an awareness and understanding of how computers are programmed, but can also increase females self-confidence and interest in computer programming. An evaluation of all female versus mixed-gender workshops suggest that an all-female environment may create a more efficient learning environment for adolescent females when teaching traditionally male-dominated topics such as computers.

Citation

Regiec, A. (2005). Squeaking Their Way into Computer Technology: A Study of Middle School Girls and Creative Computer Programming. In P. Kommers & G. Richards (Eds.), Proceedings of ED-MEDIA 2005--World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications (pp. 2311-2316). Montreal, Canada: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved June 9, 2023 from .

© 2005 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

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References

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