Why do female and male students enroll in STEM programs? This report looks at some of the reasons using national survey data from male and female college students currently pursuing STEM degrees (n=500). Female students were most likely to attribute their interest in STEM before college to a teacher or a class, while games/toys sparked the interest of the highest number of male students. Female students were also more likely to say that they chose STEM to make a difference (49% vs. 34% males). The full report uses surveys of college students and parents of K-12 students to give a more complete picture of how to inspire and prepare students for STEM careers.
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Harris Interactive and Microsoft Corp. STEM Perceptions: Student & Parent Study. September 2011. |
This report shares the findings from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation Commission on Technology, Gender, and Teacher Education based on focus groups of female students, online surveys of teachers, and existing research. Some key recommendations from Tech Savvy include changing the public face of computing, offering multiple entry points into technology and computing, and rethinking educational software and games to appeal to girls as well as boys. Check out the complete report for recommendations for educators, school districts, students, parents, and software/game designers on how to get more girls interested in technology.
Read the full report on the AAUW website.
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American Association of University Women. Tech-Savvy: Educating Girls in the New Computer Age. Washington, DC. AAUW, April 2000. |
