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To Get Girls More Interest in Computer Science, Make Classrooms Less 'geeky'
A non-stereotypical computer science classroom decorated with plants and nature posters could attract more girls to introductory computer science courses, according to a new study by the University of Washington.
Credit: University of Washington
The way computer science classrooms are decorated can influence high school girls' interest in taking introductory computer science classes, suggests a new University of Washington study.
Researchers studied 270 high school girls and boys, asking them to complete questionnaires about their interest in enrolling in a computer science class, their sense of belonging in such a class, and how much they thought they personally fit with computer science stereotypes.
They also were shown pictures of two mock classrooms--a "stereotypical" classroom with sci-fi movie posters and computer parts, and a "non-stereotypical" classroom with potted plants and posters of abstract art and nature scenes--and asked which they preferred and if the appearance of the classroom influenced their interest in taking a computer science class. Boys showed no preference and the rooms' appearance did not affect their interest in taking a computer science class. However, 68 percent of the girls preferred the non-stereotypical classroom and girls were three times more likely to say they would be interested in taking a computer science class in the non-stereotypical classroom.
"Our findings show that classroom design matters--it can transmit stereotypes to high school students about who belongs and who doesn't in computer science," says lead researcher Allison Master.
From UW Today
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