Computational Thinking Video Blog

Picture Me in Computing

Last night, I was eating dinner with my sons when my youngest said,
"Raise your hand if you're a silly boy!"

To be funny, I raised my hand with a great-big grin. My seven-year-old immediately looked at me and said
"You're not a boy, you're just a girl that does boy things."

Perplexed, I asked,
"Like what?"

He got a questioning look on his face and said timidly,
"You play with computers and those are boy toys."

I was speechless. There were no words for what I was feeling. How could it possibly be that *my* son, a boy that sees me on the computer for 90% of my waking hours could dare to call a computer a boy toy? I certainly wasn't promoting that idea. When questioned, he told me that computers had Lego games and Hot Wheel games and lots of other boy things on them and implied that I was somehow using them for things other than what they were intended to be used for.

It occurred to me that his impressions were based on *his* experiences and not mine. He's not on Facebook with me. He's not browsing for new purses, selling things on Etsy or looking up hairstyles. He's playing racing games, dinosaur learning games and other things that I've tailored to his individual tastes. Is there maybe a way to fabricate an environment for little girls that make computers feel like a "girl toy?"

Help us come up with a solution. Join Wednesday's digital flashmob with Picture Me in Computing! Tag all of your social media interactions for the day of 11-10-10 with #picmecomp and help bring the idea of Women in Computer Science straight to young girls! For more information on how to participate, visit:

http://picturemeincomputing.org/index.php?q=participate

Maria Klawe comes to the UO

10-28-10, 7:30 pm - 110 Knight Law Center

This month's distinguished lecture will feature Maria Klawe, President of Harvey Mudd College. WICS members have been given the unique opportunity to meet with Klawe before her talk at 3:30 pm on Thursday the 28th. Please RSVP for location.

Maria's talk will focus on gender issues with women in computer science. The abstract is as follows:

Gender and Computing

This talk explores how girls and women differ from boys and men in their uses of and attitudes towards computing technology, and how this affects career choices and technology design. From playing computer games to pursuing computing careers, the participation of females tends to be low compared to that of males. Why is this? We discuss research findings on this issue, as well as best practices for increasing and retaining the participation of females in computing

WICS Wednesdays

Come join us for a new and improved
WICS WEDNESDAY!

11:30 am - 12:30 pm: WICS lunch & meeting in Deschutes 100

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: FUNdamentals in Deschutes 100

I will also be available for individual one-on-one appointments.
Email me @ kiki@cs.uoregon.edu to set one up!

Check out the basket!

Ladies, have you ever been working late in the lab when you spill a little soda on your blouse right before a big interview? Forget your contact solution at home? Feel like your breath is getting kind of raunchy? Make your way up to the second floor bathroom and help yourself to the various necessities in the basket on the counter.

Calling All Women - Video Blog

It's All About Class - Video Blog

Help Pull Undergrad Women into CIS!

Given that I'll be teaching CIS170 this summer, it's a great opportunity to pull-in and retain some CIS majors! Please help me spread the word to undergrad friends to register for CRN#42976. Class will not be required on Fridays, and we'll be covering many interesting subjects.

This aims to be a very entertaining class, with plenty of flexibility to choose subjects based on what people are interested in. Please pass the word around to all of your undergrad friends and try to inspire at least 5 more people to sign up. This class counts as a general science, but it would also make a WONDERFUL elective for someone who just wants to fill space in their schedule over the summer.

Whether you need preparation to begin a major, want a refresher on the things that you already know, or are desperate to find four more credits to fill your Summer term for financial aid, this is the class for you!

Women LITERALLY in Computers

Some may be upset by the idea that even in computer science, women are still being wooed by shoes and jewelry. That idea doesn't upset me at all. I think that the current trend of repurposing old computer parts is fun and very, very geek chic.

Take a look at these heels by Steven Rodrig (Gizmodo). They don't look very comfortable, but they make one heck of a statement! Walk a mile in our shoes...you'll see how difficult it can be!

Another beautiful use of old circuitry is this lovely and very artistic jewelry by Bonnie Meltzer. She goes above and beyond using old computer bits tacked to the end of a wire, actually weaving the parts and pieces into lovely and fragile neckware. So, if you're a woman who embraces both technology and fashion, maybe it's time to embrace technology *in* fashion.

Some Light Reading

I've long believed that a girl's confidence in the sciences correlates to that of her mother's. As it turns out, it may also have to do with the confidence of her teachers! This article in the Durango Herald suggests that the majority of math teachers are women and the confidence that they may or may not have will seep into their female students. Take a look at the article. What do you think?

This article on CNET from Carnegie Mellon suggests that men seek out the science of computing, while women see computing as a useful tool in achieving other goals. They also believe that computer science education is actually tailored to a small and specific slice of male students. I'd love to hear what you have to say about this. There's so much speculation and I definitely have some ideas of my own. What are yours?

If Barbie(TM) Can Do It, So Can YOU!

We all have our opinion of Barbie(TM), but regardless of our own personal memories, that little plastic girl affects children everywhere. Now, It's up to us to help get our mission through to the youth of the nation using the reputation that she's worked so hard to build.

Right now at Barbie.com you can vote on her next career. Within the five choices provided is Computer Engineer! Let's vote at http://www.barbie.com/vote/ and use this small opportunity to help change the stigma of Women in Computer Science!






Image Courtesy of Mattel & Barbie.com

Welcome Back!

Happy New Year to all and welcome back! Winter term is going to begin a building phase for the women of computer science. Our goal is to inspire those who have decided that they want to try computer science and encourage them to seek strength in numbers. If you know any women with questions, please give them my email (kiki@cs.uoregon.edu).

This term, we'll be starting a study group for the women of the 200 level courses. I've heard that there's a healthy representation in 313 as well, so maybe we'll get a weekly meeting together there also. Most of all, we would love to have some volunteers to help us go to the grade schools and out into the community. Please contact me if you are interested in putting in some time into our philanthropy.