Girls in tech

While most future jobs require high levels of digital literacy, only one in ten graduates from IT degrees are women (Zagami et al, 2016). There is also significant gender disparity at technology companies.

Even though technology use is increasing, relatively few women are playing a role in creating this technology or are pursuing studies in technology-related fields.

In response to this trend, programs and support aim to inspire girls and women to take up technological pursuits. The intended outcome is for girls and women to contribute more to, and have a greater voice in, the field of technology. The belief is that increased exposure to technological activities directed specifically towards girls at school will help increase confidence and interest in the area.

This infographic developed by Intel presents six ways to engage more girls and women in making.

Resources

The Digital Technologies Hub features a range of resources for implementing the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies.

Made with Code
Use this site to encourage girls to become involved in computer programming.

#GirlsCan: Girls Who Code
This video aims to inspire girls to get involved in computer science.

Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show
Inspire your girls with these videos of a positive role model.

Tech girls: Resources
Discover a range of suitable programs and sites to support girls in computing.

Girl Geek Academy
This site provides resources to promote female engagement in technology, encouraging women to learn technology, create start-ups and build more of the internet.

Girl Geek Academy presents MissMakesCode teacher and teacher librarian online and face-to-face training

#MissMakesCode training has been designed by teachers, for teachers.

Learn to use coding concepts to create your own game at this professional development day, and walk away with a curriculum and resources you can use in your school the very next day.

This training is open to primary school teachers and teacher librarians. Aligned with the Digital Technologies Curriculum, this course meets the achievement standard for Foundation to Year 2 and is practical, empowering and fun!

We’ll focus on teaching visible thinking skills, enabling your students to use a variety of computational methods to solve problems using programming principles.

Secure my ticket now

Can’t make it to face-to-face training? Find out about the free online training, curriculum, and resources.

Webinars

Girls in tech

Presented by: Helen Sultana
1 November, 4.30–5.30pm AEST
This webinar will cover engaging girls in technology. We will introduce a whole school approach problem-solving model that can be used to assess what is happening at your school in regards to providing programs that promote girls in tech. The webinar will provide practical examples of strategies and approaches that schools can use to encourage participation of girls in technology as well as resources that are relevant. Part of the webinar will also introduce female tech start-up founders who are experts in gaming and other technology related careers.

Register now!

Digital citizenship

Presented by: Matthew Vines
In this webinar, Matt covered what digital citizenship is and why it is important; alignment of digital citizenship to the Australian Curriculum; and practical lesson ideas and approaches to: digital footprints (helping students understand that they have a digital identity), respectful online behaviour, and digital safety.

The recording for this, and all of our previous webinars can be found on our webinars page.

Tech Girls are Superheroes 2017

In September, winners were announced for the 2017 Search for the Next Tech Girl Superhero competition. Over 260 teams across Australia and New Zealand took part, creating meaningful apps to help their local community.

National winners in Australia

Primary: SUNFUN
The girls from Pacific Pines Primary School in Queensland created a fun app to help their peers understand the importance of sun safety.

Secondary: V Link
St Peter’s Girls' School in South Australia designed a mobile app to connect skilled retirees with volunteering roles.

Full details of all the winners can be found on the Tech Girls Movement website.

Spotlight case study

Learning digital technologies outside the traditional classroom

St Aidan’s Anglican Girls' School is an independent day school located in Corinda, Queensland. Read the case study to learn about their approach to the Digital Technologies Curriculum which includes the implementation of a makerspace.

Robots in South Australia

Using robots to teach may seem like something from the Twilight Zone. This project demonstrates how accessible robotics can be in the classroom, and how they can inspire students to think outside the box.

For further case studies, see our Primary or Secondary pages.

FIRST LEGO League Australia

The FIRST LEGO League is a competition for students in years 4–10. Teams of students 'build, program, and compete with a robot, while also learning about a modern problem in science and engineering and developing solutions for it'. The theme for this year is hydro dynamics, where students are asked to learn about how we find, transport, use, or dispose of water.

The 2017 season kicks off in South Australia today, and runs throughout the country until early December. Volunteers are required to help facilitate and judge state competitions. For further details, and to register your interest, visit the FIRST Australia website.

Role models

There are so many wonderful role models that can help you generate an interest in technology for your female students. Here are a couple:

Superstars of STEM, from Science and Technology Australia
Tech Girl Superheroes, from the Tech Girls Movement.

Upcoming events

Find out what competitions, conferences and professional learning opportunities are on offer in 2017 through our events calendar.

FIRST LEGO League Australia; 30 October – 10 December, National
Digital Technologies workshop: Bendigo; 2–3 November, VIC
Lego robotics workshop: Scienceworks; 5 November, VIC
TASITE: Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies — all the good stuff!; 8 November, TAS
Introduction to makerspace for K–6 teachers: Bathurst; 8 November, NSW
Introduction to makerspace for K–6 teachers: Orange; 9 November, NSW
Introduction to makerspace for K–6 teachers: Dubbo; 10 November, NSW
Robotica: Scienceworks; 12 November, VIC
Introduction to STEAM-based computer game design; 13 November, VIC
Introduction to makerspace for K–6 teachers: Tamworth; 14 November, NSW
Introduction to makerspace for K–6 teachers: Armidale; 15 November, NSW
TASITE Seminar Series: Blended learning through Canvas; 15 November, TAS
#MissMakesCode teacher and librarian training; 16 November, VIC
Sphero Rollbot workshop: Scienceworks; 25 November, VIC
Digital Technologies workshop: Brisbane; 3–4 December, QLD
TASITE: Interactive story (South): 6 December, TAS
#MissMakesCode teacher and librarian training; 12 December, VIC

Digital technologies making news

Engaging the future of STEM, Ms Sarah Champan and Dr Rebecca Vivian
Girls and computing: Female participation in computing in schools, Jason Zagami, Marie Boden, Therese Keane, Bronwyn Moreton, Karsten Schulz
MakeHers: Engaging girls and women in technology through making, creating, and inventing, Intel
9 organisations committed to helping girls kick butt in tech fields, sheknows
National initiative to ignite female students into tech careers, NZTech
Girls and STEM: How can we up the numbers?, Beth Cone Kramer
Code like a Girl launches apprenticeship programs to get girls into the tech business, Financial Review
LinkedIn data shows Australian tech still has a gender diversity problem, Financial Review
Aussie VCs leading on gender diversity, but there's a long way to go, Financial Review

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