Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Girls Who Game Program Provides Access to STEM Opportunities

  • By Sara Friedman
  • 10/14/19
Female student using Minecraft

Microsoft and Dell Technologies are working together to encourage girls to become interested in STEM through an after-school pilot program. Girls Who Game teaches female students about coding and computational thinking using Minecraft: Education Edition.

The pilot program is aiming to engage students in grades four to eight through learner-driven experiences and mentorship opportunities. By building a community of learners, Girls Who Game wants to help girls build relationships and encourage them to continue to develop their coding skills.

"We are thrilled to provide access to technology to girls across North America and give them the chance to explore multiple disciplines and global competencies," said Dell education strategist Katina Papulkas. "If we can engage these young girls early on to develop their skills and build their self-efficacy and confidence and to realize their potential, that would be a major success, essentially encouraging more women to explore STEM careers."

Each pilot school will receive Dell Latitude 3190 devices equipped with Minecraft: Education Edition. Dell and Microsoft are also providing ongoing professional development for program coaches.

About the Author

Sara Friedman is a reporter/producer for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe covering education policy and a wide range of other public-sector IT topics.

Friedman is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she studied journalism, politics and international communications.

Friedman can be contacted at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @SaraEFriedman.

Click here for previous articles by Friedman.


Featured

  • digital graph

    Building Genuinely Data-Informed School Districts

    Schools today generate enormous amounts of data. The difference between collecting it and using it effectively often comes down to quality, access, and context.

  • Neon blue security locks with a single red highlight

    With AI, Cybersecurity Focus Shifts from Finding Flaws to Fixing Them

    For decades, one of cybersecurity's biggest challenges has been finding vulnerabilities before attackers do. A growing number of security professionals now say artificial intelligence is changing that equation, shifting the focus from discovering flaws to fixing them quickly enough to prevent exploitation.

  • Top View Shot in Elementary School Computer Science Classroom

    Education's Top 5 Technology Priorities and the Challenges Standing in the Way

    Cybersecurity ranks as the No. 1 priority for education technology leaders in the United States, according to the latest State of Ed Tech report from CoSN, yet insufficient cybersecurity staffing and the lack of a dedicated budget are key barriers.

  • Engineering team implements digital guardrails on AI

    3 Starting Points for Integrating AI Guardrails in K-12 Districts

    As education leaders start to craft an AI policy that is both practical and flexible enough to evolve with this fast-changing technology, there is at least one principle that should be foundational: AI should serve to augment human critical thinking and creativity but never replace human interaction and decision-making.