IDP Project FOCAL Point: Fostering Ongoing Communication AND Learning in a Virtual Community

协调中心项目是一个多方面的项目，包括已被证明在鼓励非传统领域的女孩和年轻妇女方面有效的模式。来自威斯康星州和周边地区的20名高中计算机教师将聚集在威斯康星大学史蒂文斯分校参加为期两周的暑期研讨会，在研讨会上，他们将接受性别问题、电子通信和信息系统概念的培训。他们将开发适合女性的课程，在随后为期两周的针对年轻女性的计算机夏令营中，与高中生一起试行。大学女生在暑期课程中担任高中生的导师和助教。与性别有关的技术项目通过分包合同向教师参与者提供资金，将该项目的影响扩大到直接参与者之外。所有项目参与者都通过电子方式连接到一个“学习者的虚拟社区”。

Project FOCAL Point is a multi-strand project encompassing models that have been shown to be effective in encouraging girls and young women in non-traditional fields. Twenty high school computing teachers from Wisconsin and surrounding areas will gather at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point for a two-week summer workshop in which they will receive training in gender issues, electronic communication, and information systems concepts. They will develop female-friendly lessons to be piloted with high schools students in a following two-week summer computer camp targeted for young women. University women serve as mentors to the high school students during the summer session, as well as teaching assistants. Gender related technology projects, funded through sub-contracts to teacher participants, extend the impact of the project beyond the immediate participants. All project participants are electronically connected to a "virtual community of learners."