2. Experiences on gender and use of technology Leikny Øgrim Oslo University College Department of Education www.hio.no

9. Situation: gender differences Theories: explanations Experiences: formative actions

10. IT in schools and homes - mostly for boys? Gender –Boys are more interested –More boys have access to a PC at home –Boys believe IT will be important in their jobs –Boys use a multitude of programs Geography Social class Family situation The Nerwegian Bureau of Statistics 1995

11. Areas of computer use The playground The writer’s room The information market The meeting place The program workshop Håpnes & Rasmussen: ”Internett – Jentenett ” (Internet - Girl net)

12. CD-rom Home page E-mail Net-game Internet Datavirus Excel Cyberpunk IRC Cyberspace Processor Hacking Modem Megabyte Virtual reality Girls, Boys and Concepts of IT Color printer Vestby: ”The Girls, the Boys and the IT Concepts”

13. Balance? Technical understanding and development Use of technology

15. Differences increase with age - socialisation Girls have little interests in technique - or do they? What about teachers’ expectations?

16. Two (or three) modes of explanation Gender differences (human causes) The characteristics of computers and computer programs (technical causes) Combinations?

17. Independent Determined Explorative PRODUCT- ORIENTED Gender? Cooperative Holistic Use oriented RELASJONS- ORIENTED lonely one-sided dependent useless undetermined boring

18. Gender and technology Who washes the dishes and who maintains the car? Which machines are managed by who? –Sewing machine, washing machine, micro wave oven? –Grill, video, radio watch?

19. Gendered working life The Nordic women have the largest percentage of paid work in Europe, but Norway has one of Europe’s most gendered work market

20. Myths on IT IT is solely technical IT is very difficult IT is for nerds you have to start as a child IT claims all your time Stuedal: “Girls and the study of Informatics”

21. The computer has to be useful Idea from Kvande Rasmussen Are girls’ interests directed towards the social aspects of the technology, end boys’ towards the technology s such?

22. Computer use is related to the process of socialisation for the boys, but not for the girls Myths on IT are not very appealing, especially not for the girls

23. Experiences - aspects of Norwegian projects Female role models Obligatory IT-education Attention ! Attitude campaigns Extra time and space Learning on girls’ premises

24. Female role models Lady Ada: Mother of computing

25. Grace Hopper: mother of programming Female role models

26. ”An IT-journey to a better school” –Increase the level of IT-competence for girls –Training on girls’ premises –Increase girls’ self confidence by giving them extra attendance –Girls’ evenings and mothers’ evenings –The boys learned e-mail from the girls

27. Female classes in IT Lots of female teachers with low computer competence Create role models for girls in school Women’s groups in male dominated field Reminder for female teachers

30. Learning curve

31. Conclusions Female groups recruit women with low competence and relatively low self confidence on computer use Female groups recruit women with long job career The social milieu is especially mentioned in student evaluations

32. As long as the female groups may influence the milieu among the students and the recruitment of female teachers and students, this is enough reason to continue the experience.

33. Girls’ premises?