| dc.description.abstract | It is a well-known fact that women are underrepresented in both technology education and in the professional technology sector. As the technology is rapidly evolving, the world has a need for more engineers in the future, and in order to fill all positions needed, women need to be recruited to the tech industry as well.
In this thesis, I have identified several workshops which have a focus on technology, with girls as their target group, and with the goal of increasing their interest in programming and STEM education. I have designed and analyzed initiatives which include both the informational aspect of a workshop, such as lectures about technology, and the practical aspect of a workshop, such as designing or programming something.
The outcome of this research is an analysis of whether girls become more interested in studying technology and programming through informational lectures and practical workshops. I have discussed the importance of lectures about technology versus the importance of experiencing practical activities of programming and technology. I have also found some characteristics of activities which could increase female secondary school students' interest in technology. These results could be used by teachers when designing programming activities or other activities to attract more girls to IT and programming studies. | |
