Increasing the Number of Women in Computer Fields: A Community College Approach

巴尔的摩县社区学院正在开发格雷斯·霍珀数学和计算机科学奖学金项目。该项目旨在为女性在必修的数学课程中取得成功做好准备，提供一个建立信心的环境，培养对计算机科学职业的认识，并强调女性在这一重要领域可以产生的影响。该计划的主要组成部分包括学生进入第一个完整学期的课程之前的暑期桥牌计划，强调数学和就业市场技能的课程，以及帮助创建学习者社区的支持网络。该项目还鼓励女学生结合计算机科学学习高等数学。通过为公认的障碍提供解决方案，调查人员试图证明，吸引更多女性进入计算机科学领域的关键是支持严格的数学培训、多种应用学习机会，还是支持女性榜样和导师。该项目还为其他社区大学提供了一个可复制的模式，因为它正在扩展到邻近的安妮·阿伦德尔和乔治王子的社区学院。来自其他先锋社区学院的一个由教育合作伙伴组成的工作组，除了上面列出的两个合作伙伴外，正在就新的课程设计、项目开发和评估进行咨询，以确保项目可复制。课程材料、专业发展资源和数据正在网上提供。

The Community College of Baltimore County is developing the Grace Hopper Scholars Program in Mathematics and Computer Science. This program is designed to prepare women for success in required mathematics courses, provide an environment that builds their confidence, create awareness of careers in computer science, and emphasize the impact women can make in this vital field. Major components of the program include a summer bridge program before students enter in their first full semester of coursework, a curriculum which emphasizes mathematics and job market skills, and a support network which helps to create a community of learners. This project also encourages female students to pursue advanced mathematics in combination with computer science. By offering solutions to acknowledged barriers, the investigators seek to demonstrate whether the key to attracting more women to the field of computer science lies in support for rigorous mathematics training, multiple applied learning opportunities, or female role models and mentors.This project is also providing a replicable model for other community colleges as it expands to neighboring Anne Arundel and Prince George's Community Colleges. A working group of educational partners from other Vanguard community colleges, in addition to the two partners listed above, are consulting on new course design, program development, and assessment to ensure a replicable program. Course materials, professional development resources, and data are being made available online.