Abstract
Academic exposure to computer science, encouragement to study computer science, and connecting personal interests to computing areas influence women to pursue degrees in computer science. Guided by these recommendations, we designed and offered a summer learning experience for girls in grades 7--9 in summer 2016. The goal of the program was to improve girls' perceptions of learning computer science through academic exposure in the informal setting of a girls-only summer camp. In this paper we present a study of the girls' perceptions of CS learning. Four constructs were used to develop pre- and post-survey items: computing confidence, intent to persist, social supports, and computing outcomes expectations. The camp appeared to have positively influenced the girls on two of the four constructs, by improving computing confidence and positive perceptions of computing careers.
Publication Date
6-1-2017
Journal Title
Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges
Publisher
ACM (Association for Computing Machinery)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Mihaela Sabin, Rosabel Deloge, Adrienne Smith, and Wendy DuBow, Summer learning experience for girls in grades 7–9 boosts con.dence and interest in computing careers, Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges 32 (2017), no. 6, 79–87.
Rights
Copyright © 2017, Association for Computing Machinery, Inc.
Comments
© 2017, Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive Version of Record was published in Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3069673.