The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts and the ASMSA Foundation Fund have received an $8,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas in support of a new installment of the school’s Science and Engineering Institute (SEI) outreach program.
Through SEI+G1RLS C0DE, 40 young women in the eighth and ninth grades will explore both computer programming and hardware engineering using the Raspberry Pi hardware and Scratch programming language platforms.
“At our core, ASMSA exists to assist districts and educators in providing appropriately challenging learning opportunities to talented and motivated students throughout Arkansas,” said ASMSA Director Corey Alderdice. “Through residential, digital learning and outreach programs, our institution proudly serves the academic needs and interests of students and educators both on our campus and throughout the state of Arkansas. We are thrilled that the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas supports our commitment to increasing the number of young women interested computer science.”
The mission of the Women's Foundation of Arkansas is to promote philanthropy among women and to help women and girls achieve their full potential. The Women's Foundation of Arkansas is the only statewide foundation that focuses solely on women and girls in Arkansas. Encouraging women and girls to improve skills in math, science and technology is one of the foundation’s primary goals.
Lynette Watts, the WFA’s executive director, noted ASMSA’s proposal is about expanding access to instruction, technology and support not commonly available to Arkansas students.
“It is always exciting when a grant proposal fits perfectly with the mission of the Women's Foundation of Arkansas — and the request for funding for the SEI+G1RLS C0DE project does exactly that!” Watts said. “The project reaches young women around the state who most likely do not have the opportunity to be exposed to — much less come to own — cutting edge technology and learn how to program and use it effectively. Computer technology is a career field that lacks women, and it is one that provides entry into many professions. This ASMSA project introduces the young women participants to these many possibilities and, at the same time, gives them the technology to practice on and develop their skills.”
That cutting edge technology comes in the form of a Raspberry Pi computer. The devices are pint-sized personal computers that are small enough to fit into a pocket but also powerful enough to run a variety of full-fledged programs. The $35 device will be provided to each student and will be hers to keep at the end of the program. Students interact directly with the hardware to bring the machine to operational ability, including adding on additional tools such as a WiFi adapter, sensors, cameras and other peripherals, which will also be purchased.
The SEI+ program will meet on three separate Saturdays during January, February and March 2015 on ASMSA’s residential campus in Hot Springs from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The sessions with feature a variety of activities intended to engage and inspire the participants.
The Girl Scouts Research Institute reported in 2012 that 23 percent of high school girls say they are interested in pursuing computer science. Denise Gregory, an ASMSA instructor who will co-teach the seminars, points out that the lack of interest from young women isn’t about capacity but familiarity.
“I think girls often have a limited definition of the field of computer science as well as a limited view on who can do CS,” Gregory said. “Our goal is to expand the girls' definition of computer science as well as demonstrate women are capable of doing great things in the CS field.”
Arkansas is one of 38 states that do not allow computer science courses to count toward core science or mathematics graduation requirements. ASMSA is one of a limited number of high schools in Arkansas offering computer programming and the only school in the state to include courses in the subject as part of students’ graduation requirements.
“Too few Arkansas schools are providing computer science offerings,” stated Carl Frank, an ASMSA instructor who also serves as the president of the Arkansas Computer Science Teachers Association. “Computer science is about problem-solving, logic, and critical thinking. It is a discipline that allows students to create, not just use technology. These skills are needed in the 21st century, no matter what the student ultimately chooses as their field of study or occupation.”
While male interest in computer science has rapidly increased since 2004 and the advent of the mobile age, interest in the sector by women has actually decreased. The number of computing degrees or certificates earned by women has dropped by almost 30 percent, contributing to an even greater gender gap in an already male-dominated industry. Gregory and the other ASMSA staff members contributing to the program believe the experience will allow the participants to see what’s possible by creating things together.
“We hope to accomplish these goals by allowing girls to have hands-on exploration of technology, opportunities to code and by introducing them to positive CS women role models,” Gregory said.
To learn more about the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, visit www.womensfoundationarkansas.org.