University of Michigan News Service – UM News

Computerworld honors two programs for girls

ANN ARBOR—UM-GIRL and Smartgirl.org, two University of Michigan programs designed to help girls in middle school expand their interest in math and science, have been chosen for inclusion in the 2002 Computerworld Honors Collection. Established in 1988, the collection archives case studies documenting uses of information technology that are especially noteworthy for originality of conception, breadth of vision, and a significant benefit to society.

UM-GIRL is an intensive two-week program held during the summer between sixth- and seventh-grades—a critical time when many girls begin to lose interest in math, science and technology. “UM-GIRL is based on the belief that girls who are underachieving in math can experience a different relationship with math when they approach it via problems that are of interest to them,” said Pam Reid, director of the Women’s Studies Program. She explains that the program uses several methods, including small class size, a single-sex educational environment, mentoring, and high achievement expectations. In addition, there are several professional development workshops for seventh-grade math teachers, offering tools and strategies to enhance girls’ confidence and skills.

Smartgirl.org, a Web site with an already established audience of teen-age girls, was recently donated to the University, allowing UM-GIRL’s reach to expand beyond the small group of students who can participate in the summer program. “The Web site provides an interactive medium for adolescent girls to experience technology and is currently being redesigned to incorporate key components of the UM-GIRL curriculum on the site. The Speak Out section will let girls fill out anonymous surveys online and analyze and interpret data to answer their questions,” program manager Tiffany Marra explained. Undergraduates at the U-M serve as mentors for girls participating in the Web site program.

Programs are chosen for inclusion in the Computerworld Honors Program by a panel of chairmen or CEOs from leading IT companies. The U-M programs were nominated by Stephen P. Jobs of Apple Computer. “We’re not sure how Mr. Jobs heard about us, or what prompted his nomination, but we are certainly pleased and honored to be included,” said Abigail Stewart, director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, which oversees the project.

For more information about UM-GIRL or Smartgirl.org, contact Tiffany Marra, (734) 764-9537, [email protected]. Information about the Computerworld Honors Program can be found at http://cwheroes.org/.