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Mission
The
growing need for Information Technology (IT) workers and the disturbing
under-representation of women and minorities in this increasingly
important sector of the workforce are matters of rising concern
for policy makers and industry leaders.
The purpose of this research project was to examine whether the
content of media, experienced by 6th, 7th and 8th graders reinforces
or hinders the development of gender and racial diversity in the
IT workforce.
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The purpose of the project was to examine whether the content
of the media
reinforces
or hinders the development of gender and racial diversity in the
IT workforce.
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| |
Description
- Look
at the media environment of middle school students
While Information Technology (IT) workers
are in short supply, the vast majority of women and minorities
are not electing IT as a career choice, nor are young women
and minority students preparing themselves for such careers.
Many studies
have been undertaken to explain this phenomenon; however no
study has taken a systematic look at the media environment
that surrounds all students at a crucial period in their development:
the middle school years.
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Identify
the media and examine the content
This project identified and analyzed the various
media - the movies, television programs, magazines, career
information resources - experienced by sixth, seventh, and
eighth grade students to determine the manner in which these
media portray gender and race in relation to IT as an occupational
choice.
- Implement
the curriculum
Embedded in the research design was an Internet-based
curriculum project, called Getting the Media Message, connecting
students and teachers in grades six through eight nationwide
and involving them as junior researchers in both data gathering
and content analysis.
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