Meet Them Where They Are (Case Study 3)
An Engaging Way to Introduce Computing
To educate girls about information technology and potential careers in the field, the Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council in North Carolina runs a Girls are I.T. program, sponsored by a National Science Foundation research grant. Through its two key components – an educational website and a mobile technology bus — the program aims to increase access to technology by meeting girls where they are, both geographically and experientially. Since its inception, the bus has reached over 5,200 girls, many of whom are in rural locations with limited exposure to technical experiences. ![]() The Mobile Technology Classroom features 12 workstations designed to showcase technology and technology careers in ways that tend to appeal to many girls. For example, four hands - on activities explore how technology helps people live better lives – (see detailed descriptions below). In each activity, girls are encouraged to imagine the future of technology based on the program component they’ve just completed. The girls then upload their ideas to www.girlsareit.org, a website that presents the history of technology and highlights women who have exciting IT careers. |
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While this unique program might be difficult to replicate, educators can increase girls’ access to IT through curriculum that adapts several key components: |
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Resources
- For more information about this program see the Girls are I.T. website, www.girlsareit.org or contact Heather Doyle, hdoyle@hngirlscouts.org.
- For more information about other Girl Scouts of the USA technology programs see www.GirlsGoTech.org.
- Case Study Contributors: Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council, and Girl Scouts of the USA
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Authors: Lecia Barker and J. McGrath Cohoon