LE3 .A278 2016

2016

Trudel, Cindy

Acadia University

Bachelor of Computer Science

Honours

Computer Science

Computer Science

The number of women in Computer Science has been decreasing drastically since its peak in 1982. Overall enrollment for both men and women has dropped 25% but women’s enrollment in Computer Science has dropped 92% [1]. If society wants to improve the technology sector it needs to empower women and encourage women to join this field. Information Communication Technology (ICT) jobs are currently in the most demand in Halifax [29], and yet women only make up 24% of current ICT Nova Scotian employees [29]. This is a modern-day Rosie the Riveter moment of which society needs to take advantage. The purpose of this thesis was to create a curriculum that encourages young women to start programming and perceive Computer Science as a viable field of study. The curriculum was tested in an alpha, beta, and gamma test so it could be perfected for final delivery at a girl’s Computer Science camp in August of 2017. The curriculum was successful in convincing girls to consider Computer Science as a career option, successful in encouraging girls to continue programming after the event, and successful in helping girls express their individuality through programming.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1591