Computer Mania Day!  A HUGE Hit!

 

The Center for Women and Information Technology (CWIT) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) hosted Computer Mania Day for the sixth time to over 1,000 girls on Saturday, May 5th.  Girls Get IT! was there to participate in the event and was amazed by the turn out of over 1,000 girls, parents and teachers for the annual event.

 

Background:  Computer Mania Day is designed to provide a half day of technology-related activities geared for 6th - 8th grade girls and their parents. While boys are welcome, the focus is on girls because of their continuing under-participation in information technology classes and careers. This program is designed to provide a broad-based introduction to information technology applications to different careers. The students were gathered in small groups of no more than 25, and the groups rotated between different information technology and engineering demonstration stations. At each station, the students learned about the application of technology to the world of work through fun and interactive activities.

An adult program complemented the day by providing a variety of breakout sessions that allowed parents and teachers to learn more on special topics such as cyber safety, hot technologies, and opportunities for girls in IT. Adults received advice from business professionals and education leaders that will better prepare them as their children prepare for college and begin thinking about their future careers.  Click Here for the 2007 program guide and for more information.

This year CWIT brought an awesome new component to the program, Jennifer Webb, a 3-D, digitally animated 8^th grader at Computer Mania Middle School, who can flip her ponytail, IM, download and prepare for a career in computer technology. In fact she is just like any other middle school girl.

Jennifer interviewed several of the panel members in the opening session and from the participant's reaction, she was a huge hit for everyone. 

Jennifer's Story:  When Jennifer was in 6th grade, Brandi Chastain came to Computer Mania Day as a guest speaker, which was very exciting since Brandi is Jennifer's ultimate role model. Jennifer is a defensive midfielder for the soccer team at her school, but also likes to play pick-up soccer with the other boys and girls in her neighborhood.

Jennifer enjoys technology a lot; in fact, she is president of the computer club at her school. She is proud of her idea to create a color calendar for their club that Xerox copies for them. The computer club helps the school to keep its website up to date. Jennifer is also a member of the after-school technology program ESTEEM, where students participate in a variety of fun projects. Her favorite project so far was when they built their own telephones (which they got to bring home afterwards).

"Jennifer Webb represents cutting edge technology that can figuratively and literally talk to girls to get the message across that technology is fun," said Claudia Morrell, Executive Director of CWIT.

 

Computer Mania Day and Jennifer Come To Florida, Spring 2008!

Why Do We Need a Program Like Computer Mania Day??  Current research shows that the information technology (IT) gender gap opens as early as the middle school years, when girls are most image-conscious and do not want to be labeled as "geeks" or "nerds." Girls also make up only 14 % of Advanced Placement students in computer science, a key to success in IT-related fields at the college level. IT related careers are some of the fastest growing and high paying careers in the U.S. today and the industry is looking for more female leaders.  Where will they come from?