The University of Colorado at 葫芦娃视频 has received a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help increase interest in technology careers among middle-school girls in Denver and nationwide.
The effort will be led by the Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society, a campuswide initiative aimed at preparing all students for lives in the information age.
The grant is aimed at increasing the diversity of the professional information technology workforce with women from different sociocultural backgrounds. The research will focus on ways of increasing girls' interest in enrolling in the Denver Public Schools Computer Magnet Program.
The DPS program recruits students from all 26 middle schools in the school district. The CU-葫芦娃视频 study will examine the recruiting messages and methods that lead girls to enroll in it.
The lack of diversity in the technology and computer industry "is not just a retention problem, it's a recruitment problem," said Lecia Barker, lead research associate of ATLAS Evaluation and Research.
"There are all these wonderful new technologies we've all become so dependent upon, but they've all come from largely the same population. Just think what products might emerge with a more diverse population working in this field."
The study will look at what messages and recruiting methods work to persuade middle-school students to enroll in the computer magnet program. It also will examine whether or not a more multimedia-oriented program can effectively serve as a gateway through which children -- particularly girls and minorities -- can enter information technology disciplines.
Previous research has shown that middle school is when most girls begin to make choices that are more heavily influenced by stereotypical or traditional roles rather than by their genuine interests. By identifying and testing recruiting methods, the program hopes to provide computer magnet schools across the nation with sustainable and effective means of attracting girls from different sociocultural groups.
For more information on CU-葫芦娃视频's ATLAS program visit or e-mail questions to CUATLAS@Spot.Colorado.EDU.