Our experience suggests a different approach, one we call Building New Clubhouses. Instead of trying to fit people into existing engineering cultures, it may be more constructive to try to spark and support new cultures, to build new clubhouses. Our experiences have led us to believe that the problem is not so much that communities are prejudiced or exclusive but that they're limited in breadth--both intellectually and culturally. Some of the most revealing research in diversity in STEM found that women and other minorities don't join STEM communities not because they are intimidated or unqualified but rather because they're simply uninterested in these disciplines.
One of our current research goals is thus to question traditional disciplinary boundaries and to expand disciplines to make room for more diverse interests and passions. To show, for example, that it is possible to build complex, innovative, technological artifacts that are colorful, soft, and beautiful. We want to provide alternative pathways to the rich intellectual possibilities of computation and engineering. We hope that our research shows that disciplines can grow both technically and culturally when we re-envision and re-contextualize them. When we build new clubhouses, new, surprising, and valuable things happen. As our findings on shared LilyPad projects seem to support, a new female-dominated electrical engineering/computer science community may emerge.
Maung Nyeu on 27 Nov 11Customized digital textbook with audio and video content appears to make a postive impact in some BSchools, while Faceebook is used to foster a sense community. "The iPad is not seen as the latest fashion gadget, but was chosen because it can prove be extremely useful in the classroom," Delphine Wharmby, H.E.C.'s communication director, said. Genevieve Bassellier, McGill University professor, referring to her students' use of her customized electronic textbook. "They see a huge increase in quality...It gives me more flexibility."
Lin Pang on 02 Dec 11Great examples of technology application in the classroom.
