Did you know that LEGO is spending $40 million to market its new product line for girls? In an op-ed column for The New York Times writer Peggy Orenstein looks at LEGO’s new “Friends” collection, “… where girls can build, create, remodel and redecorate!” and feels a little sick about it. The company has taken a beating from many bloggers and pundits for designing LEGOs that seem to adhere to every stereotype about girls and toys (the Friends collection has softer edges, comes in pastel hues, and features characters with “bios”). However, LEGO defends itself by pointing out that it conducted years of “cultural anthropology” research to find out what girls want, and with this product line is only giving them what they want.
Knowing what we know about the powerful influence of “tinkering” and building things on girls’ interests and career choices, what do you think of LEGO’s approach?
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Did you know who just celebrated a birthday? That’s right: NCLB, or No Child Left Behind. In recognition of the law turning 10 years old, The Nation took a look at how NCLB has changed the education system. One of its conclusions is that NCLB has caused an increase in standardized testing. With the forced focus on English and math standards, many schools have been forced to cut topics such as the arts, social studies, and computing out of their curriculum.
Although some have proposed additional standards for these subjects to keep them on the radar — the Computer Science Education Act suggests state standards for computing education, for example — others wonder if federal intervention would “over-standardize” and “hinder creative teaching of what can be a dynamic and diverse subject.” What do you think?
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Some of us are familiar with data analytics as a tool to evaluate a website, a business endeavor, or a program’s efficacy; but did you know that data analytics are being used in classrooms, too? The Chronicle of Higher Education takes a fascinating look at how vast amounts of data about students can be used to identify which ones are struggling, who should be paired with whom in classroom labs, even which majors are a good fit for which students. Do you use analytics, anonymous or otherwise, in the classroom? What do you think about this approach?
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Did you know that only 7% of Generation Y works for a Fortune 500 company? CIO has two interesting articles this week about young people and the IT workforce: one looks at the hiring forecast and the growth in employee turnover, while the other looks at trends in how young people view the workplace and their careers.
With hiring on the rise and demand for technology workers outstripping supply, companies can ill afford increased turnover costs. Yet Generation Y employees are described as seeking a more “entrepreneurial environment” than what’s traditional in many technology groups at large companies, and with that “more aggressive career development opportunities and the ability to learn new things quicker.” Does your company have a strategy for attracting and retaining Gen Y talent? If so, we want to hear about it.
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Did you know that NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is planning to learn how to code? The Mayor is just one of thousands of people who have subscribed to Codecademy’s “Code Year,” in which the startup company sends a weekly lesson teaching the basics of programming using a fun, interactive, web-based tutorial.
Meanwhile, The Atlantic Wire is reporting on the growing phenomenon of accelerated workshops and bootcamps that teach programming skills with the assumption of immediate use. Although programming has long had an autodidactic culture that eschews traditional academic approaches, it seems there’s an increasing demand for both programmers and programs to train them. What do you think? Would you hire a programmer who’d “graduated” from one of these new programs?
Did You Know? is a brief round-up of information and news that crossed NCWIT’s radar this week that we think might be of interest to you. Practices or content of the news presented are not vetted or endorsed by NCWIT.
- K-12
- K-12
- I Want To
- K-12 Resources
K-12 Resources
Act and advocate for more inclusive computing learning experiences. Encourage and inspire students to explore computing pathways that match their interests and abilities.
- K-12 Programs
K-12 Programs
Inspire and encourage individuals of all backgrounds, equip K-12 and higher education influencers, and foster virtual and in-person communities at local, regional, and national levels.
- K-12 Alliance
K-12 Alliance
Mobilize year-round alongside formal and informal educators and other adult influencers nationwide working together to create lasting impact.
- Get Involved
- Higher Education
- Higher Education
- I Want To
- Higher Ed Resources
Higher Education Resources
Build consensus for action amongst colleagues, leaders, and advisors to create momentum for measurable, sustainable change within computing departments and institutions.
- Higher Ed Programs
Higher Education Programs
Recognize students’ computing aspirations, honor faculty for their outstanding mentorship, secure strategic buy-in for lasting change, and more.
- Higher Ed Alliance
Higher Ed Alliance
Mobilize year round alongside faculty, staff, administrators, department heads, and other mentors nationwide working together to create lasting impact.
- Get Involved
- Workforce
- Workforce
- I Want To
- Workforce Resources
Workforce Resources
Employ strategic approaches that avoid the typical pitfalls of traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion interventions.
- Workforce Programs
Workforce Programs
Volunteer to engage with the next generation of technologists, amplify the bottom-line benefits of diverse technological contributions, and more.
- Workforce Alliance
Workforce Alliance
Mobilize year round alongside corporate seniors, executives, and team leaders nationwide working together to create lasting impact.
- Get Involved
- Resources
- Resources
- Programs
- Programs
- Aspirations in Computing
Aspirations in Computing
Aspirations in Computing (AiC) provides encouragement, enables persistence, opens doors, and changes lives for women in technology from K-12 through career.
- BridgeUP STEM
BridgeUP STEM
BridgeUP STEM provides opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to learn the skills of computer science and research methodology within a research university setting.
- Color of Our Future
Color of Our Future
The Color of Our Future focuses on broadening the meaningful participation of underrepresented women and girls of color (Black, Latinx, and Native American).
- Conversations for Change
Conversations for Change
Conversations for Change is an online thought leadership series that presents research-based recommendations and prompts peer-to-peer discussions to further inclusivity in computing.
- Counselors for Computing
Counselors for Computing
Counselors for Computing (C4C) offers professional development to school counselors, positioning them to effectively guide ALL students in exploring computing pathways.
- Higher Ed Programs
Higher Ed Programs
Higher Ed programs recognize students’ computing aspirations, honor faculty for their outstanding mentorship, secure strategic buy-in for lasting change, and more.
- NCWIT Recognitions
NCWIT Recognitions
NCWIT Recognitions foster great potential that otherwise may have gone unrecognized, and foster great ideas that might never have come to fruition.
- Regional Initiatives
Regional Initiatives
NCWIT’s Regional Initiatives bundle research-backed programs and practices to increase the local participation of women and girls in tech fields and careers. To understand local computing ecosystems, and cater content and programming to needs on the ground, NCWIT partners with community stakeholders to build awareness, inspire participation, and connect women to like-minded peers, role models, and opportunities.
- Sit With Me
Sit with Me
Sit With Me uses its iconic red chair to create in-person and virtual spaces where everyone can reflect on the value of diversity and inclusion.
- Tech Inclusion Journey
Tech Inclusion Journey
The Tech Inclusion Journey (TIJ) is a unique, scalable software platform that empowers change leaders to implement systemic, sustainable approaches to the creation of inclusive cultures.
- Aspirations in Computing
- News & Events
- News & Events
- NCWIT Summit
NCWIT Summit
The NCWIT Summit: where conversations lead to change is the world’s largest annual convening of change leaders focused on significantly improving diversity and equity in computing.
- News
News
Check out NCWIT’s latest press releases, press mentions, newsletters, blogs, and articles we are talking about!
- Events
Events
NCWIT offers various in-person and virtual events throughout the year and is also present at many other industry events. Find out about past and upcoming items here.
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