It’s no secret that fewer and fewer women are entering computer sci- ence fields. Attracting high school
girls to computer science is only part
of the solution. Retaining them while
they are in higher education or the
workforce is also a challenge. To solve
this, we need to show girls that computer science is a wide-open field that
offers many interesting career choices.
That’s why I decided to take a group
of high school sophomores and juniors from Columbus School for Girls
(CSG) in Ohio on a service trip to
the Caribbean, where we delivered 60
laptops to three classrooms of third
through fifth grade students and
taught them how to use the computers.
My intent was to expose my students
to computer science through a service
trip and show them that this field has
many fulfilling pathways. The outcome
of the project was that I tapped into
a reservoir of enthusiasm that I have
never seen in girls, and I found a way
to attract more than the usual tiny
group that has an affinity for computer
science. I believe I have found a powerful way to show girls that computer
science has facets beyond gaming and
programming, and that the field attracts wonderful people focused on
changing the world.
This project can easily be carried
out in other private or public schools,
either as an elective, after-school ac-
tivity, or club. What works for girls
will also work for boys and minorities,
both of which have declining numbers
in computer science in the United
States. Our country needs more com-
puter scientists, and this is a great way
to engage students who otherwise
wouldn’t consider it an option.
