K Bechtel

Educational settings can do many things do address the issues found in the article Silicon Ceilings: Information Technology Equity, the Digital Divide and the Gender Gap among Information Technology Professionalsby Andrea M Matwyshhn.  This article describes how the digital divide among men and women is prevalent and growing not only in terms of access to consumers of information technology but also in terms of access to producers of information technology.  The following list gives suggestions as to what schools can do to close this gap:

• instruction and exposure to information technology at an early age (prior to junior high and high school)
• employ more women as computer educators to act as role models to girls
• stimulate more girls to take computer science classes by developing a curriculum that pays attention to the different learning styles
• employ tech savvy teachers that will expose students to technology use in the classroom
• educate girls on the possible work related jobs in the area of computer science
• use single-sex schools or classrooms where socially constructed stereotypes can be broken and girls can have equal access and time to use computers; this also promotes girls having positive attitudes towards computer science
• train teachers to be aware of group processes and dynamics and how these may impact girls
• provide networks for females to connect with each other
• use a hands-on approach to the technology curriculum
• get parents involved
• personally invite girls to take technology classes
• offer additional lab time for students to practice
• create partnerships between high schools, community colleges, and businesses that would support internships and certification programs

These are suggestions that would address the gender issues surrounding technology equity in educational settings.