CSM Broadening Female Participation in Computing

 Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 80401

Broadening Female Participation in Middle School through Undergraduate Study


Philosophy

The Colorado School of Mines (CSM) approach to outreach in Colorado’s Adams County District 50 (AC50) and Aurora Public Schools (APS) is to provide the opportunity for teachers and students to be immersed in mathematics, science and technology at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Through
a $2.5 million grant from the Bechtel Foundation, CSM faculty and graduate students will be directly assisting K-5 teachers in AC50 and APS as they implement scientifically and mathematically rich, hands-on instruction at the elementary level. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is supporting our efforts at the middle school level in these school districts as part of the GK-12 Learning Partnerships grant (DGE-0638719; $1.7 million). The current NSF grant, Broadening Participation in Middle School through Undergraduate Study (CNS-0739233), completes the pipeline by providing support for interventions at the high school and college levels.    

 

Participants

AC50 is 58% Hispanic and 2% African American, and APS is 48% Hispanic and 21% African American. Both are economically disadvantaged with a large proportion of students receiving free or reduced cost lunches. The Colorado School of Mines is a university of applied science and engineering and has the highest admission standards in the State of Colorado.

 

Activities

This project comprises the following activities that are designed to attract and retain female participation in computer science from middle school through undergraduate studies:

  • a summer technology camp for middle school students
  • an after school technology club for high school girls
  • interventions with middle school and high school teachers through summer workshops, which will provide instruction on research based methods to encourage female participation in computer science, mathematics and science
  • interventions to improve academic advising at the middle school, high school and undergraduate levels with respect to technical fields
  • revisions to the computer science curriculum at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) to increase female interest and participation