Minimum Motion with Maximum Effect: Strategically Recruiting and Retaining Undergraduate Women

From Anita Borg Institute Wiki

Contents 1 Blog Entries 2 Notes 2.1 Speakers 2.2 Resources 2.3 Plan strategically 2.4 Recruiting 2.5 Lack of information and misconceptions 2.6 Stereotypes Reduce Confidence and Interest 2.7 Identifying "low hanging fruit" - "ripe for the picking" 2.8 Which messages do all audiences need to hear? 2.9 Parents Ranking of Hope for Kids 2.10 Crafting messages 2.11 Retention

Blog Entries

By Gail Carmichael at Communications of ACM: http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/99667-ncwit-at-grace-hopper-recruiting-and-retaining-women/fulltext

Notes

Speakers

Lecia Barker, University of Texas Joanne Cohoon, University of Virginia

Resources

Lots of resources are available on the NCWIT.

Plan strategically

-Create a shared vision -Identify specific reasonable goals -Choose relevant interventions and activities corrdinated to reinforce each other -Choose metrics carefully track what works and what doesn't to imrove allocation of scarce resources

Recruiting

Strategic recruiting gives high yield in the short term.

2/3 of biology graduates are women. reveal to them the potential in CS Creating youth strategies recruitment plan document using the ncwit es-up reform model

components who are the target audiences that will succeed and who are their influencers. Make sure they are apable. come up with messages that make sense for your specific audience.

Why do they not persue? educational policy -almost always eletive -structure of system makes it difficult to elect -school boards decision makers not informed.

The laws need to change things such as: Choosing this means you cannot do anything else or it doesn't count unless you are a CS major. This needs to change

"Moving beyond computer literacy" - a good talking points document.

Lack of information and misconceptions

-What is it? -Too many sources misinform. -NCWIT has roadshow in a box, train our girls to use it to minimize misinformation.

Stereotypes Reduce Confidence and Interest

-Disconnect between feminine and technical -Stereotype threat: "fear of confirming stereotypes about my group". --Hinders performance --Affects choices and aspirations --Set harsh standards and opt out if not met

Practice sheet is available.

Identifying "low hanging fruit" - "ripe for the picking"

-Criteria for the major -Largest majors on your campus -Contact possibilities already available -Your program and their interests

Craft a message to biology major etc. Get the workbook. 45% of math majors today are women!

Where can you find recruits?

Leveraging your existing assests.

Control the public message, give the right message. Make a points card and give it to admissions.

Middle school girls particularly like animals.

Which messages do all audiences need to hear?

Job projections Salaries Flexibility Social Relevance Work with others Time with family

Parents Ranking of Hope for Kids

They want their daughters to be happy in career choice. Sons should persevere to plan for future family.

Crafting messages

Need a sense of belonging, role fulfillment. Misconceptions they dont just want to have fun they want to help the world.

Embedded in activities messenger images. A robot saving lives not just a robot. address values. pictures of people doing things appeal to girls.

Let people talk.

Go to the parents teachers councelors not just the girls.

ASSESSMENT!!

Search for this entry video barker csta what research tells us

Retention

What happens after you've been successful, retention.

Explain the hurdles that you faced.

Who is likely to persist? -Some will leave no matter what, the best thing you can do it set it up that maybe in the future there is a way -Some are bullet proof -Some will allow you to influence their decisions, this is your target group.

Facilitate success continually -Feedback context assess early and often mean standard deviation, emphasize homework skill building through practice. Encourage participation in classes. Find some truth in whatever students say. Inhibit showoffs. Create group opportunities. Natural opportunities to continue the group. Train teaching assistants!!!! Encourage persistence.

Promote community Use collaborative learning (Pair Programming) Charlie McDowell has done great research on pair programming. Do not create isolation! Use inclusive language. Spot light for accomplishments not their gender

Maintain interest through curriculum You can work in any industry. Highlight relevance Use meaningful examples

Support students Mentor diversity give honest encouragement Use intrusive academic advising Early warning system Call student who miss 2-3 consecutive classes Below C on first test

NCWIT SEM survey

the 5. facilitate promote engaging support monitor

join the academic alliance adopt practices get extension services