Computer Clubs for Girls CC4G Melody Hermon
Jan 16, 2016
Computer Clubs for GirlsCC4G
Melody Hermon
Agenda
• e-skills UK
• The Challenge
• Computer Clubs for Girls – CC4G
• The CC4G courseware
• The impact– Evaluation
– Case study – Pembroke School
– Further evaluation
e-skills UK
• Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms• Employer led• Not for profit
– Research– Skills supply – IT Management and Business– Workforce development
• Skills for the Information Age• Business IT Guide
– Sector attractiveness• User skills – e-skills UK Passport
The Challenge
The future workforce
• IT and Telecoms account for just under 1.4 million of the UK's total workforce
• Growth over the next decade• Central to the UK's economy • Significant numbers of people will be needed • Changing skills• Market forces
Women working in IT
• Women represent 46% of the UK workforce
• Women represent 19% of IT and Telecoms workforce – 18% of IT managers are female
– 12% of IT strategy and planning professionals
– 14% software professionals
– 58% database assistants
Women in IT – education
• At 16– 44% of applicants were girls– Girls performed better than boys– Numbers increased since 2003
• At 18– 39% of applicants are female– ICT v Computing
• Higher education choices– 58% of HE places go to women– 24% of places on IT and related courses
Why?
• Department of Trade and Industry research• British Computer Society Research• e-skills UK – a negative perceptions
– The type of people who work in technology– Male dominated– Influence of school experience– Knowledge of IT careers– Lack of strong role and relevant role models– HE courses not attractive– Changes between 10 and 14
Positive Action
• Women working in IT– Networking Groups
– Employer Diversity Programmes • IBM 'Respect for the Individual‘• Accenture 'Women's Networking Forum' and 'Global
Women's Initiative'
– Recruitment and information websites
www.wherewomenwanttowork.com
– National awards
• CC4G
What is CC4G?
• Out of hours school club• Web-based activities and challenges • Courseware meets the needs of:
– Employers– Schools– Girls aged between 10 and 14
• Courseware introduces a range of ICT skills within a familiar and exciting context
• A website to support girls and teachers
What is CC4G (cont.)
• Club materials
• Support– Regional organisations– Employers
• CC4G Helpdesk
The story so far
• Pilot and roll-out across to state funded
schools across England
• Pilot in Northern Ireland
• Programmes in Scotland
• Programmes in Wales
The CC4G courseware
What teachers say - Delivery
• 89% said the quality of guidance was ‘absolutely brilliant’ or ‘pretty good’
• 79% said it was ‘easy’ or ‘pretty easy’ to get started with CC4G
• 81% said it was ‘easy’ or ‘pretty easy’ to facilitate• 65% said CC4G should remain girls only
What teachers say – Impact
• 98% said that members’ IT confidence levels improved• 96% said that members’ IT skills are improved• 97% said that membership will have a positive impact on
members’ achievements in IT• 88% said that membership will have a positive impact on
members’ achievements across the curriculum• 52% said their level of confidence in IT has improved• 55% said their level of skills in IT has improved
Girls
• 67% said that CC4G had made them more likely to want to work in a career involving technology
• 86% said that CC4G should stay girls only• Girls who are not comfortable in other clubs (music,
sport) often find their niche in CC4G• Cross-curricular gains are made, particularly when girls
realise that ICT can help them in different contexts• Evidence suggests ICT skills learnt in the club
environment are more enduring, and girls correlate these more easily than those learned in a classroom.
CC4G in practice
Pembroke School – why CC4G?
• To promote improved transition links• Work on existing business and education links • Uptake of qualifications • Girls under-achieving• Girls in Y6/Y7 switching off ICT• Complementary• Potential growth of the IT industry in Wales of
20-30%• Local regional support
Pembroke school – what?
• Pilot– Three centres– Transition years – primary to secondary– 6th formers as mentors– Girls
• Girls from rural primary schools• Lack of IT at home• Mid year exams identified as under-achievers
• How it worked– Training– ‘Celebrity’ visits– Created a ‘chill zone’– On-going evaluation
Impact
• Performance has overtaken boys
• Improved transition
• Attendance
• 85% reported increased confidence
• 90% more likely to do and ICT exam
• 66% said used skills elsewhere
What next
• More mentors, centres and girls
• Older girls
• Links to other programmes
• Further evaluation
• Spread good practice
• Encourage parental participation
• Qualifications for girls and teachers
Further evaluation
• Analysis of discourse– High percentage of exploratory and cumulative discourse– Little or no off-task discourse
• Outcomes better than any individual student could produce alone
• Members consistently fully engaged • Peer support – older girls supporting younger effectively
in Clubs• Exploratory approach – girls more likely to engage with
and explore courseware and the related software
Further evaluation 2
• Increasing confidence with ICT
• Growing self-esteem
• More relaxed and happier than in class
• Special educational needs students making gains
• 10 year olds outperforming students from the year above
Future developments
• Community environment
• Navigation
• Topic refreshes
• New topics
Agenda
• e-skills UK
• The Challenge
• Computer Clubs for Girls – CC4G
• The CC4G courseware
• The impact– Evaluation
– Case study – Pembroke School
– Further evaluation