COMPUGIRLS: A Culturally Relevant Technology Program for Girls


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One hundred girls between the ages of 12 and 18 in the Phoenix, Arizona area learn about social justice issues as they explore technology (e.g. laptops, digital cameras, video equipment) and learn to use programs (e.g. Scratch, Teen Second Life) in a month-long summer session and Fall/Spring after school classes.
Project Information
Cohort: 
6 (2008/2009-2011/2012)
Category: 
Strategies
Principal Investigator: 
Kimberly Scott
Co-Principal Investigator(s): 
Sethuraman Panchanathan
Gregory Aist
Jenefer Husman
Elisabeth Hayes
Bryan Brayboy
Sponsor: 
Arizona State University
Primary Focus: 
Computer Science - Programming and Other
programming
Organization Location City: 
Tempe
Organization Location Region/State: 
Mountain
Arizona (AZ)
Where project work happens: 
Mountain
Arizona (AZ)
Other Area(s) of Focus: 
Computer Science – Gaming & Simulations
Participant type: 
High School Students
Girls
English Language Learners
Free/reduced price lunch
Target Area: 
Urban
Award Number: 
08-33773
Overview Section

Arizona State University (ASU) in collaboration with Phoenix Union High School District, Scottsdale Union High School District, Roosevelt District, Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley-Sacaton, Intel, Applied Learning Technologies Institute, Dynamic Educational Leadership for Teachers and Administrators (D.E.L.T.A.), ASU's School of Computing & Informatics, ASU's Video Game Design Camp, and Arizona Council of Black Engineers and Scientists Computer Camp (ACBES), are conducting a culturally relevant multimedia program strategy, COMPUGIRLS. Drawing on three well-documented frameworks, Culturally Relevant Pedagogical practices (CRP), Social Justice Youth Development Framework, and Future Time Perspective, this after-school and summer program fosters in IT/STEM related outcomes for 100 adolescent (grades 8-12) girls from several Phoenix high needs districts and schools. COMPUGIRLS takes place at two sites, ASU and the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley-Sacaton. Already, 40 girls have completed one-year of the program. This project expands the program to include another 60 students, their parents, ASU graduate students and in-service teachers, and peer mentors. COMPUGIRLS provides hands-on technology experiences that include internships, Advanced Placement credit, conference and community presentations, and parent workshops that will ultimately develop participants' techno-social analytic skills for real world problems.