Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Article Review #2 "Is Technology Just for Boys?"

In the article "Is Technology Just for Boys?" Linda Starr interviews Sherry Turkle who is one of the co-chairs of the AAUW's Commission on Technology, Gender, and Teacher Education about equity in technology. According to Turkle, somewhat of a bias currently exists when dealing with boys and girls and technology. It is assumed, because there are currently many more males entering the workforce in technology related occupations that males are more suited to these types of jobs. Turkle maintains that this is not the case. She blames the inequity on current educational practices that seem to deter girls from being interested in technology. She believes that technology material is not presented to girls in ways that would appeal to them. In order for teachers to bridge the equity gap, Turkle suggests better technology training for teachers. Teachers need to be able to choose appropriate software for their curriculum, and know how to use it to inspire their students, both the boys and the girls. I know that this is an area where I, as an educator, could benefit greatly from increased training in technology. As a female who has worked in the scientific community, I have always been interested in the topic of gender equity and thought this article was very enlightening and informative.

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