program
overview

The COMPUGIRLS program consists of six distinct courses. Students begin with a summer session, meeting 4 times per week for 5 weeks. Each successive fall, spring and summer contains another course. Curricula are designed by co-pis working in tandem with mentor-teachers.

Course I — Introduction: Introduction to social justice, media and technology

Course II — The Sims: Design a virtual world and determine the trajectory of the characters' lives

Course III — Scratch: Learn and manipulate graphical programming language to create animation, games, music and art

Course IV — Intro to Teen Second Life: Participants create characters and begin to operate in a virtual world

Course V — Teen Second Life: Begin social justice projects to affect change in a virtual world

Course VI — Capstone of Teen Second Life: Execute proposed projects in a virtual world

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program
objectives

• To use multimedia activities as a means of encouraging computational thinking
• To enhance girls' techno-social analytical skills using culturally relevant practices
• To provide girls with a dynamic, fun learning environment that nurtures the development of a positive self-concept

investors & collaborators

INVESTORS

• National Science Foundation
• Sponsors

SUPPORTERS/PARTNERS

• Boys and Girls Clubs of the East Valley, Sacaton Branch
• Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) - COMPUGIRLS "SISTER" SITE

CURRENT PARTNER SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• Phoenix Union High School District
• Tempe Union High School District
• Roosevelt Elementary School District
• Scottsdale Unified School District

program administration

• Principal investigators
• Program staff