This newsletter provides a monthly recap of the biggest headlines about women and computing, news about NCWIT, and links to resources to equip you as change leaders for increasing women’s participation in technology. Practices or content of the news presented are not vetted or endorsed by NCWIT.
On November 8, 2021, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) launched the Senate’s first Women in STEM Caucus, a new bipartisan group that will work to advance women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and math education and careers. The caucus will provide a forum for discussion and legislative collaboration about how to expand access to STEM education for women and increase women’s participation in STEM-related fields. November 8 is National STEM Day.
“To advance innovation, America needs talent, including women and other underrepresented groups,” Lucinda Sanders, CEO and co-founder of the National Center for Women & Information, said. “For each woman or member of an underrepresented group who is unprepared or discouraged from full preparation and participation in STEM and computing, America’s future economy and security are weakened. That’s why the formation of the Women’s STEM Caucus is such welcome news.”
Read the full press release here.
Increasing the widespread use of transformative teaching practices in computer science (CS) undergraduate education requires sustained, intentional planning, and effort. This article is the next installment in our series of interviews with prominent propagators: members of the CS education community who have successfully spread pedagogical or curricular innovations.
Read the full article here.
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 NCWIT AspireIT Toolkit // https://ncwit.org/resource/ncwit-aspireit-toolkit/
The NCWIT AspireIT Toolkit helps anyone interested in designing engaging and inclusive computer science experiences for K-12 students, with a focus on broadening the participation of girls, women, and other underrepresented populations. The Toolkit equips facilitators with the resources and support they need to create sustainable and lasting change in their communities.
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The following is an excerpt from When Tech Doesn’t Age Well, by NCWIT Social Science Program Director Timothy Faiella. Read the full article (plus many more) at ncwit.org/rethink.
Ageism not only affects how tech is marketed, but also how it is developed and adopted. On the flip side, technology can play a role both in perpetuating and/or disrupting ageism. No doubt, age bias is ingrained in the technical workforce, particularly for women. But, by understanding historical and current contexts, we can mitigate the barriers that prevent older people from contributing to technological innovations that would benefit us all.
Ageism is discrimination against a person based on their age. These biases are most often held toward elderly or middle-aged people, but it can also be true that these biases affect youth. NCWIT uses intersectional approaches to increase the meaningful and influential participation of women and girls in computing, recognizing that one’s social location ― oftentimes shaped by race, class, gender, and other dimensions of who we are ― creates multiple, interconnected identities and distinct experiences. Age is one of these intersections. It’s important to investigate how it interacts with the other social identities, and how these intersections might lead to greater barriers, fewer opportunities, and more hostile work environments.
As a nation, we are getting older. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, in 2018, the life expectancy at birth was 78.7 years. That number has risen steadily over the past hundred years (in 1900, life expectancy at birth was 47.3 years). Census data shows that the average household is shrinking (from 3.3 people in 1960 to 2.53 people in 2020). Families are growing vertically and shrinking horizontally.
In the United States, aging is viewed primarily as a process of decline. We’re perceived to lose skills, mobility, and brain power. It’s assumed that older people are less able to assimilate new information. While work experience is often valued, this seems to be less true of the tech workforce, where older employees’ skills are often considered obsolete and older employees are often relegated to less-influential projects. Bias against older workers costs the U.S. economy an estimated $850 billion annually. About 57 percent can be attributed to involuntary retirement. The impact on women is particularly severe — one-third of that total lost GDP is from women being forced to retire sooner than they would prefer, due to age discrimination. And, these dynamics are moving in the wrong direction. By 2050, that number is projected to climb to almost $4 trillion.
To make matters worse, a recent AARP survey found that nearly half of older workers concerned about job security worry that their age will impair their ability to find a new job, with women slightly more concerned than men. Among the most vulnerable, those who believe they could lose their job within the year, 61 percent believe their age would be a factor.
Because of its rate of change, tech is commonly considered a realm of youth — products are developed by, used by, and marketed toward young people. Including older workers in this process is particularly important because it helps ensure that the needs of aging populations are considered and met.
The good news is, there are many ways to combat ageism and mitigate its impacts. For example, accommodations such as flexible scheduling options can make a big difference in retaining older employees. Read the full article, and find more ways that employers can support individuals of all ages in the tech workforce, at ncwit.org/rethink.
A recent study by researchers at NCWIT Academic Alliance Member University of California (UC) San Diego explored factors beyond the course material that may contribute to lower performance for students in introductory computing courses, according to an article on the UC San Diego - Jacobs School of Engineering website. The researchers found that “lower performing students reported higher stress levels on multiple factors — including cognitive, socio-economic, and personal — than higher performing students, indicating that when students struggle, they are often facing headwinds on multiple fronts.” These challenges included stressors such as work family or obligations, lack of confidence, and lack of a sense of belonging in the class. The authors also observed that “[t]he issue of struggle across multiple factors was particularly prevalent for students from groups traditionally underrepresented in computing — including women, Latinx and Black students.” While the study focused more on understanding the issues than on finding solutions, the authors did note some potentially promising avenues for intervention. At the level of individual courses, for example, instructors can help alleviate student stress by providing flexibility in assignment deadlines. More systemic approaches, such as ensuring that K-12 students have some exposure to computing education before college and reworking financial aid requirements, were also noted.
NCWIT offers many resources for faculty, staff, and program administrators who want to support student persistence and success in computing majors. Here are a few selections to check out:
Earlier this month, NCWIT K-12 Alliance Members Code.org, the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), and Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance (ECEP) released the 2021 State of Computer Science Education: Accelerating Action Through Advocacy. This annual report provides an update on national and state-level computer science education policy with an emphasis on equity and diversity. The report notes that while the percentage of U.S. high schools offering computer science education has risen from 35 percent in 2018 to 51 percent in 2021, it is still “inadequate that half of schools lack even a single course.” The report also points out that disparities in access to computing education exist. In particular, “Rural schools, urban schools, and schools with high percentages of economically disadvantaged students continue to be less likely to offer computer science; and Black/African American students, Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx students, and Native American/Alaskan students are less likely to attend a school that offers it.” In addition to observations about the current state of computing education, the report shares policy recommendations designed to help make computer science a fundamental part of the state education system. For example, the report authors call on policymakers to create a clear state plan for computer science education; establish rigorous K-12 computer science standards; and allocate funding for professional development for educators.
NCWIT offers a variety of resources for educators and others who want to expand access to computing education. Check out the selections below, and visit ncwit.org/resources for more.
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NCWIT Conversations for Change with Lien Diaz: Promoting Equity in Computer Science Education // December 8, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. MT
Lien Diaz is a founding director of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Tech. Bringing an essential core foundation of equity in access and opportunity to computer science (CS) education, her role as Director of Educational Innovation and Leadership establishes the Constellations Center as a leader in expanding CS education through an equitable and comprehensive approach. Come learn about Lien’s journey and the lessons that have led to her work on challenging the status quo and broadening participation in computer science education, including her work with the Constellation Center which she founded in order to advance equitable computer science education through a comprehensive approach.
Go here to register for this free event.
Broadening Participation in the Classroom: A Discussion with NCWIT National Educator Award Recipients // December 8, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. MT
NCWIT and Infosys Foundation USA invite you to join us for a panel discussion with National Aspirations in Computing Educator award recipients, who support the computing-related passions of 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students. Gain inspiration for the coming semester as you listen and engage with these exceptional educators. Panelists will discuss the value of promoting gender equity in computing and the tactics they have used to broaden the participation of students who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) in computing and technology. By the end of this session, you will be able to implement strategies to get other faculty and students interested in broadening the participation of girls, women, and other underrepresented populations in computing.
Learn more and register: https://ncwit.org/broadening-participation-in-computer-science-education/.
Support NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC)
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Apply for the NCWIT AiC Educator Award. This award identifies exemplary formal and informal educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students to explore their interests in computing and technology. The deadline to apply for the AiC Educator Award is December 6. Learn more and apply: https://www.aspirations.org/award-programs/aic-educator-award.
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Help review award applications. NCWIT receives thousands of AiC award applications each year; this year, NCWIT expects to receive 25 percent more. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to identify outstanding, aspirational technologists by sharing their insight into the world of computing. Register to volunteer now, and download this flyer to share the opportunity to volunteer with colleagues and peers.
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Contribute to the AiC program through charitable giving. Envision a time when every student who is interested in computing can thrive amongst their peers, nurture their aspirations for computing, and be supported by adults like you. Such an ambitious goal is possible through NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC). Provide more opportunities and accelerate progress for the technologists of tomorrow by contributing a gift today: https://giving.aspirations.org/.
Support NCWIT through Holiday Giving
There are many ways to include NCWIT in your giving plans this holiday season. You can select NCWIT as your nonprofit partner on Amazon Smile; make a donation on Giving Tuesday (November 30) or Colorado Gives Day (December 7); or visit ncwit.org/donate for more options.
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