tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post1184693412968319394..comments2023-06-30T22:02:09.294+10:00Comments on Rambling Teacher's Blog: Why girls should learn computer programmingRambling Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03004508814421590201noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-56063425310655230342012-02-07T18:45:29.246+11:002012-02-07T18:45:29.246+11:00Girls not learning programming? It isn't again...Girls not learning programming? It isn't against the law is it?AMAhttp://www.ama.edu.au/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-42631592808837847852011-11-09T07:34:59.716+11:002011-11-09T07:34:59.716+11:00Thanks for the comment, Peach. Sophie, one way to ...Thanks for the comment, Peach. Sophie, one way to get girls to value coding is to show them Peach's website, Techority.com<br />Peach is a self-taught programmer who has several APPs on the App Store. In a Skype appearance with the App Group, she encouraged the girls to learn to make Apps as it was a good way of generating income. This would have to be as good an incentive as any for many students contemplating funding themselves beyond school.ramblingteacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286015628832482460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-795659507169020092011-11-09T00:55:46.478+11:002011-11-09T00:55:46.478+11:00I have to say I found this profoundly depressing.
...I have to say I found this profoundly depressing.<br /><br />I know that not all girls are going to be interested in programming, that's fine - but what really bothers me is the idea that it's a <i>boys</i> thing.<br /><br />Your discussion with Samantha made me think of years ago when women actually believed being a doctor or a pilot was a job only a man could do.<br /><br />On the flip side, most people I've met get into coding because they have an interest in it on their own, it's natural and a part of them - and in the same way no one could ever make me passionate about doing laundry, manicures or dress making, I expect that trying to ignite some kind of nonexistent enthusiasm might not be sustainable long, (or even medium,) term.<br /><br />I wish I had something of value to offer to the discussion but I don't - I'm just rambling.Peachhttp://techority.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-62720900513421158502011-11-08T21:56:03.240+11:002011-11-08T21:56:03.240+11:00You're right, Sophie. We need to convince them...You're right, Sophie. We need to convince them that there is a good reason to learn programming. Of late, a number of environments have been developed to teach school kids programming. They tend to enable students to animate stories as well as make games. In the majority of cases, girls choose the former while boys go for the latter. <br />A promising project that was dropped was "Story Telling Alice". Alice itself continues (see alice.org). An academic at Swinburne, Catherine Lang, was taking it into schools under the banner "Digital Divas". She is now turning her attention to AppInventor, a Google-MIT Media Lab collaboration designed to resemble Scratch and to allow kids to make Android Apps. I am hoping our school can be part of this new program and will be going for a PD later this month.ramblingteacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286015628832482460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28079520.post-44967357674676076022011-11-08T21:14:35.648+11:002011-11-08T21:14:35.648+11:00Girls will work out how to do anything if it's...Girls will work out how to do anything if it's important enough to them. Boys perhaps learn how to do it for the sake of doing it. How do we make computer programming more meaningful for girls?Sofehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06398875172508872786noreply@blogger.com