GeekGirlCon 2011 / Computer Engineer Barbie: Attracting Girls to STEM Careers

Computer Engineer Barbie:Attracting a new generation ofwomen to technology careersCheryl PlatzSenior User Experience Designer, MicrosoftVice-President of the Board, IGNITE Worldwidecheryl@cherylplatz.com@muppetaphrodite

I want you to help me change the world, and I’m here to tell you how and why.Cheryl Platz 2

My background:Cheryl Platz 3

My background: My current workCheryl Platz 4

Prologue: My user experience team in Microsoft’s Server and Tools division is 40% female. 16 out of 40 employees as of May 2011. (The typical ratio in engineering disciplines is about 10%.) I realized that I’d never worked with so many women before – not even inentertainment. I started to wonder if there’s something particular and special about interaction design...Cheryl Platz 5

Q: Why is this our problem? What’s in it for us?Cheryl Platz 6

Q: Why is this our problem? What’s in it for us?A: The nation is falling behind – needlessly – and we are unable to fill science and technology openings with domestic talent. We’ve got the “special sauce” that can help reverse this worrisome trend.Cheryl Platz 7

Q: Why is this our problem? What’s in it for us?A: The nation is falling behind – needlessly – and we are unable to fill science and technology openings with domestic talent. We’ve got the “special sauce” that can help reverse this worrisome trend. ...Oh, and the financial upside is potentially huge.Cheryl Platz 8

“The Female Advantage” (from the Boston Globe) European firms with the highest proportion of women in power saw their stock value climb by 64 percent over two years, compared with an average of 47 percent, according to a 2007 study by the consulting firm McKinsey and Company. In a 2001 study, Pepperdine University researchers found that measured as a percent of revenues, profits at Fortune 500 firms that most aggressively promoted women were 34 percent higher than industry medians. “One recent study determined that women in senior management had an especially positive impact on firms involved in research and development.”Cheryl Platz 9

In short, a well-balanced workplace is more likely to innovate and succeed. But we‟re going to have to get involved to make sure balance is even an option in the future.Cheryl Platz

I’m going to focus on computer science education as the “canary in the coal mine” for STEM career decline: the field has some of the most promising job growth, yet paradoxically some of the largest attraction and retention issues.Cheryl Platz Interaction ’11 – Boulder, CO 11

Female interest in computer science is steadily declining. What happened after 1982? Peaked in 1982! My classCheryl Platz 12

Stereotypes happened.Cheryl Platz 13

“...There’s only one girl in space.” IxDA Seattle – May 11, 2011

In school, perception is everything.Especially for girls.Cheryl Platz 15

How can this... ...survive in their world?Cheryl Platz 16

Barbie’s 126th career: Computer Engineer. 17

Glasses Barbie’s 126th career: Computer Engineer. Bluetooth headset “Generic” touch phoneBinary shirt Practical flats 18

She may not seem like much, but this new Barbie represents an important step in changing the prevailing perception of technology careers for young women. There is growing momentum on this front: an opportunity to spread the word about technology careers. And it’s not just Barbie...Cheryl Platz 19

Cheryl Platz Interaction ’11 – Boulder, CO 20

On CNN.com: The “Top Secret Rosies” From the Women in Technology Hall of Fame: “The first programmers started out as "Computers." This was the name given by the Army to a group of over 80 women working at the University of Pennsylvania during World War II calculating ballisticstrajectories - complex differential equations - by hand. When the Army agreed to fund an experimental project, the first all-electronic digital computer, six "Computers" wereselected in 1945 to be its first programmers.” Cheryl Platz Interaction ’11 – Boulder, CO

So what’s making the women of tomorrow move away from STEM career choices?Cheryl Platz 22

So what’s making the women of tomorrow move away from STEM career choices? Practical flatsCheryl Platz 23

"One important first step towards bridging the digitaldivide is to close the disciplinary gap between the socialsciences (e.g. womens studies, ethnicstudies, psychology, and sociology) and the "hard"sciences (e.g. math, engineering, and computer science);these two discourses rarely intersect, either theoreticallyor practically.” Mary Kirk, “Gender and Information Technology: Moving Beyond Access to Co-Create Global Partnership”Cheryl Platz 24

Interaction design is a unique blend of three different traditional disciplines. Two of them are actually more gender-balanced. Visual Cognitive Computer Design Psychology Science 48% female 71% female 10% female * Data assembled from Payscale.com in August 2010, based on job titleCheryl Platz 25

Interaction design problems inherently combinecomputer science with skills that are traditionallyperceived as more desirable by female students.Interdisciplinary design problems are anideal vehicle for opening young women’sminds to the possibilities of science andtechnology careers.Cheryl Platz 26

And interaction design isn‟t the only STEM career that maypique girls‟ interest:Game Design HealthcareTell stories, collaborate, Make it easier for doctors todo what you love take care of patients Mechanical EngineeringBiomedical Design the physical Film & VideoEngineering world, from machines to theme park rides ProductionImprove quality of life by Work in entertainment, fromdefining a new generation animation to film editingof technology ...and many more...Cheryl Platz

But there‟s another problem. It‟s just as hard to retain girls in computer science as it is to attract them. Why? Computer science curriculums aren’t designed to adapt to the educational interests of female students.Cheryl Platz 28

Women are more likely to become intellectually engaged in a subject if it is presented in context, with proven societal benefit. Computer science curriculums are academic, often to a fault.Cheryl Platz 29

“Why Students With An Apparent Aptitude for Computer ScienceDon’t Choose to Major in Computer Science”(Lori Carter, SIGCSE Bulletin, 2006. Volume 38, p 27-31) Calculus and pre-calculus Two of the top three common deterrents: students (male and female) at nine schools in Arizona “My desire to sit in front of a computer all day” and California were asked to “I would like a more people-oriented major.” rank 11 items as having either positive, negative, or One of the top three positive influences: neutral influence on their consideration of computer “My desire to use computers in another field science as a potential major. (business, medicine, etc.)”Cheryl Platz 30

“Why Students With An Apparent Aptitude for Computer ScienceDon’t Choose to Major in Computer Science”(Lori Carter, SIGCSE Bulletin, 2006. Volume 38, p 27-31) Recommendations: Offer multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary programs to meet students desire to use computers in another field. Inform students about what computing really is to overcome its image of involving sitting in front of a computer all day and not being "people-oriented".Cheryl Platz 31

The key is in the messaging.What do girls want to know?Do I have to be awesome at math?Do I get to team up with other people?Can I study this at a community college? How long does it take?Is there time for me to have a family? Hobbies?How will the world be different because I do this work?How much can I make?What will my life be like?Cheryl Platz

Girls today picture science & tech careers like this: Cheryl Platz 33

Girls today picture science & tech careers like this: But we can show them a future that looks like this: 34 Cheryl Platz

We are the role models for this generation.Cheryl Platz

Stop being silently awesome. Share your passion about your “geeky” career. Share your success stories about the impact of your own STEM work.Share your enthusiasm about life outside the office. Share your daily life – what is it like to be you?Cheryl Platz

Let your experiences be abeacon for young girls looking to find their way in the world.Cheryl Platz

Reach out. Attend career fairs and talk about your work Host job shadows & office visits for interested students Set up workshops that let kids get hands-on with practical problems Encourage educators to show societal benefit of science and technology work Act as an advisor for educators designing curriculumsCheryl Platz 38

There are already a number of nonprofit organizationsworking to reach out to these students & looking for partners like you. The group I work with, IGNITE, sends technology professionals into schools to speak directly with young girls about their experiences. IGNITE also organizes field trips, job shadows, conferences, and mentoring. For more on IGNITE: http://facebook.com/IGNITEworldwideCheryl Platz 39

A little effort goes a long way. IGNITE chapter in Lagos, Nigeria IGNITE High School PresentationCheryl Platz 40

“I learned a lot about how everybody is like us and how they built their way up. I learned a lot about the future technology and how everything will cost less and people can have what they want. I also learned how toget a career in technology and at Microsoft. I would like to do more things like this.” (Student, Dec 2010) Look at what an impact “I liked the speakers because they were very you can make with just informative... I could relate to many of them. I learned two hours of your time. that many women do like engineering and technology. I never thought about it and am now considering it for my career. I thought this day was perfect. This These comments are just a fewexceeded my expectations. Thank you !” (Student, Dec 2010) of hundreds received each year from the girls themselves - afterI enjoyed the variety of presenters with the experiences they have and all of the great advice. The most just a single panel! interesting thing that I learned/heard today is it doesn’t matter what financial status you have, you should/can strive for your goal.” (Student, Nov 2010) Cheryl Platz 41

So what’s your goal?Imagine if everyone in this room spent a fewhours a year in an attempt to make a positive difference in the lives of young students...Cheryl Platz

And we‟re in luck... Seattle is a great place to start.Cheryl Platz

Other Local Opportunities: Annual DIGIGIRLZ technology camp Formal mentoring programs, e.g. Seattle Girls’ School TEALS teacher program (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools)Cheryl Platz 44

Q: Shouldn’t educators be doing this already? “While I earnestly support the idea that more girls should study math and science, I believe that the problem instead belongs to employers, educators, and the institutions they lead.” – Alan Cooper‟s response to this talkCheryl Platz 45

Q: Shouldn’t educators be doing this already? “While I earnestly support the idea that more girls should study math and science, I believe that the problem instead belongs to employers, educators, and the institutions they lead.” – Alan Cooper‟s response to this talkA: Of course, this is the eventual goal – but our nation’s educational system is poorly funded and supported. There’s no central body to socialize or enforce these changes. Rather than wait for someone else to make change, we can become agents of that change.Cheryl Platz 46

Rather than wait for someone else to affectchange, let’s become catalysts of the change we want to see. “If you want to affect culture change, you have to meet people where they are – not where you want them to be.” - Brenda LaurelCheryl Platz

In closing…Cheryl Platz 48

We’ve come a long way…Cheryl Platz 49

Cheryl Platz Interaction ’11 – Boulder, CO 50

…but our work has just begun. Stop being silently awesome. Spread the good word about STEM careers to students and educators in your community – you might just change a life.* *And at the very least, you’re investing in our youth and the country’s future while helping to educate the world about what we do!Cheryl Platz 51

Continuing the DiscussionTwitter: @muppetaphroditeWeb: http://cherylplatz.com/ http://blog.cherylplatz.com/Email: cheryl@cherylplatz.comCheryl Platz 52

Want to help IGNITE? Volunteer as a panelist, mentor or chaperone Donate to help us extend our reach Sponsor and support new chapters Follow us: http://facebook.com/IGNITEWorldwide http://twitter.com/IGNITEWorldwideCheryl Platz IxDA Seattle – May 11, 2011 53

References & Additional ReadingNCWIT: National Center for Women & IT – research, programs, partner organizationsBooks:  “Gender and Information Technology: Moving Beyond Access to Co-Create Global Partnership” (Mary Kirk)  “Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing” (Jane Margolis, Allan Fisher)Sample programs:  Microsoft‟s DigiGirlz technology camps  IGNITE Worldwide (school outreach)  Aspire / Society of Women Engineers (school outreach)  Alice.org: Free 3D visual programming software for kidsSample papers:“Evaluating the Effectiveness of a New Approach” – how use of the Alice student-orientedprogramming tool in CS courses „leveled the playing field‟ and increased retentionNCWIT Report: Girls & IT Research Summary – pointers to several recent studies and summaries oftheir findings with respect to technical education for young women.Cheryl Platz Interaction ’11 – Boulder, CO 54

GeekGirlCon 2011 / Computer Engineer Barbie: Attracting Girls to STEM Careers

by Cheryl Platz on Oct 28, 2011

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GeekGirlCon 2011 / Computer Engineer Barbie: Attracting Girls to STEM Careers — Presentation Transcript