Resources

Media & Games

Media

Tech Savvy Girls
The 2002 video "Tech Savvy Girls" discusses girls' under-representation in information technology (IT) classes and careers, and makes recommendations for combating the IT gender gap.

Produced in conjunction with the American Association of University Women, Tech Savvy Girls provides key recommendations to combat what is perceived to be an emerging technology gender gap. Hosted by NASA astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, who flew aboard the shuttle Endeavor, this program targets those who work most often with girls: guidance counselors, teachers, and parents.

Time: 30 minutes

The "Tech Savvy Girls" video was produced in conjunction with the Fairfax (VA) Public Schools and the American Association of University Women.

Digital Divide
This site highlights four major gaps in technology access and use: schools, gender, race, and the workplace. Resources include interviews, annotated links to related sites, downloadable brochures and guides, and videocassettes of the related PBS television series of the same name.

The Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ON THE AIR! isan audio resource for young girls, young women, parents, middle and high school teachers, college professors, guidance counselors, researchers, organizational leaders, and anyone interested in learning more about the past, present and future role of women in science and technology education, fields and careers.

Games

Through the Glass Wall: Computer Games for Mathematical Empowerment
This site focuses on using computer games for gender equity and mathematical empowerment. It includes an extensive list of computer games, indexed by age and content, along with reviews of many of the games. In addition, there is a bibliography of gender-sensitive research on computer games and mathematics.

Sally Ride Science Club

Whyville
Whyville is an imaginative web site that aims to help elementary, middle, and high school students understand and enjoy science. It differs dramatically from most science education sites in its use of avatars, games, computer simulation and modelling, a Whyville newspaper, and interactivity among Whyville participants. Though Whyville is not designed specifically for girls, girls make up more than 60% of its users, an exceptionally high percentage for a science-and-technology-focused site.

EGEMS: Electronic Games for Education in Math and Science
Canadian project to make math and science fun for young people age 9-14. Though not aimed only at girls, the project gives considerable attention to gender, and includes some games, such as Phoenix Quest, of particular appeal to girls. Though the project is now inactive, the site offers more than two dozen technical reports, papers, and other documents.

EngineerGirl
Web site designed to encourage girls' interest in engineering. The site includes information about what engineers do, great achievements in engineering, career facts, puzzles and games, the opportunity to ask questions of engineers, and links to related sites. Sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering.

GirlsGoTech
Sponsored by the Girl Scouts, this site is designed to encourage girls' interest in science, math, and technology. It includes interactive information about careers, biographies of accomplished women in science, math, and technology, brief information about HTML and web design, and some online games.

Girlstart.com: Smart from the Start
The web site title bar describes the site as "Math, Science, Games, and More for Girls Only!" One appealing section offers career information and advice, including profiles of young women role models. Though the site emphasizes science and math, many of the sections include other fields as well. This page is now part of the larger Girlstart organization, which offers after-school programs, Saturday camps, and Summer camps to encourage girls to excel in math, science, and technology.