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Ryan Caligiuri
Ryan Caligiuri

This document summarizes a presentation given by Chris Stephenson on recognizing diversity and achieving equity in computer science and information technology. The presentation discusses defining key terms like fairness, justice and equity. It also examines challenges and inequities faced by groups like women, racial minorities, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and people with disabilities who are underrepresented in STEM fields. Stephenson provides suggestions for educators to consider students' individual needs and promote inclusion through practices like single-sex education, role models, and specific support resources.

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Equity Begins with Recognizing Diversity Chris Stephenson University of Toronto CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Defining the Terms Fairness x I get what I want/need. Justice x Good people get rewarded and bad people get punished Equity x Everyone gets what they need to achieve their full potential CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Chris¡¯ List of Scary Words x Class/ Socioeconomic status x Ethnicity/Race x Gender x Physical abilities/attributes x Religion/Faith/Culture CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Chris¡¯ Key Concepts Privilege x perks we take for granted Prejudice x lies we are taught to believe Preconceptions x programs we run in our heads which may have no connection to reality CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
What I Offer You Today Ideas I¡¯ve collected over 16 years of research on technological equity as it relates to: x disability x race/ethnicity x class/socioeconomic status x gender CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
What I Ask of You Today x Keep an open mind x Keep an open heart x Keep me honest by challenging my assumptions and programs CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
The Science Problem ¡° If you are going to be a woman scientist, you either have to change how you see science or how you see yourself¡± Suzanne K. Damarin The Ohio State University CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
The Media Message x All scientists are crazy, or weird, or both: ¨C the Unabomber ¨C Rain Man ¨C Dr. Frankenstein x Its in the genes. x Its about torturing small animals. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Defining the Problem ¡° We are witnessing the fracturing of the democratic institutions that hold us together. The possibility for an information underclass is growing.¡± The Benton Foundation Report CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
The Costs of Inequity The creation of groups of technological have¡¯s and have not¡¯s will have enormous negative ramifications. x Economic x Social x Moral CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
People Without Jobs x 60% of all jobs..require technology skills x 75% of all transactions between individuals and government ..take place electronically. People without technology skills or access to electronic communication will be at considerable disadvantage.¡± Goslee, 1998 CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Jobs Without People IT employs more people and creates more jobs than traditional industries combined. x 71% of large and mid-sized companies report that demands exceed skilled workers x 1 job waiting to be filled for every 10 x computer programming is expected to grow by 21 to 35% over the next 10 years CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
The Underrepresented 720,000 women work in the IT industry. They represent 30% of its labour force. x 81% are white x 10% are Asian American x 6% are African American x 3% are Hispanic x <1% are Native North American CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Emotional Cost Inequities of access and use among segments of the population lead to: x disenfranchisement x disillusion x disintegration of the social fabric CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Examining the Inequities CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Consider the ¡°ability¡± and Not the ¡®dis¡¯ ¡° I don¡¯t want to be viewed as ¡®normal,¡¯, but, rather as gifted and unique. Everyone lacks some ability. We are all gifted and unique in our own way.¡± DO ? IT News Vol. 8, No.2 CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Defining Disability The term ¡°disability¡± itself is problematic. x educational x medical/rehabilitative x social x cultural CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Disability vs Culture Many Deaf people reject the entire idea of disability in favour of self- defining as part of Deaf Culture. x a common history x a visual orientation to the world x a unique language (ASL) CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Disability in Education Traditional views of disability are expanding in education to include auditory, visual, and behavioural learning disabilities. x Greater likelihood that students will be integrated into regular classrooms. x Schools are providing new levels of assisted learning. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Disability in Education Students with disabilites take fewer science and math courses. Overall they: x have lower grade and achievement scores, x are underrepresented among those with degrees, x are underrepresented in the workplace. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Breaking the Pattern ¡°If we can provide all students with true equity of access, we can break that cycle of the haves and the have nots. The cycle of welfare..is not an entrenched society but a pervasive society. If we can break that pervasive society, we¡¯ve got it made.¡± Sharon McCoy Bell CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Race/Ethnicity Factors x 32.9% of African American students own a home computer compared to 73% of white students x 9% of African Americans are likely to use the Web at home compared to 14% of white Americans x 2.8% of African Americans are likely to purchase a home computer compared to 10% of white Americans CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
High School Computing In 1999 11,793 students took the AP Computer Science ¡°AB¡± exam x 9% women compared to 91% men x 65% were white x 22% were Asian American x 5% were African American x 5% were Hispanic x 3% were ¡°other¡± CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
College Students entering public black colleges are the least likely of all freshmen to report using the Internet for email and research. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Socioeconomic Factors x 20% of students from households earning less than $30,000 per year have a home computer compared to 80% in homes with incomes higher than $75,000 x 43.5 of families on public assistance do not have telephones x 50% of female-headed households living in poverty do not have phones CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
It is Where You Come From Students in areas with a large portion of poor and minority students are much less likely to have technology access. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Gender Factors ¡° Women working in science and technology are doubly marked, doubly silenced, and doubly denied.¡± Suzanne K. Damarin The Ohio State University CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
The Generation Between High school girls are a generation caught in the middle: x more career options and expectations, x more access to technology, x still subject to enormous peer and social pressure concerning difference, x less comfortable with technology than elementary students. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Lies We Tell Our Daughters x Girls are different. x Girls aren¡¯t different. x Science is neutral. x Its okay to be smart and a girl. x Life is fair. x There are no limitations. x Having a career doesn¡¯t mean sacrificing your personal life. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
What They Ask Themselves x How come I feel different? x Why is science/technology boring? x If they know I¡¯m smart will they like me? x Are there going to be any jobs left for me? x How come my Mom still does most of the housework as well as her full time job? CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
What We Know For Sure Virtually every study on gender equity and technology in education concludes that male and female students are treated differently: x males receive more attention, x males receive more praise, x males have greater access to resources, x males are encouraged to pursue a greater variety of careers. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
What Really Works The only thing that seems to guarantee gender equity and success in science and technology is single-sex education where girls do not have to compete for: x resources, x attention, x encouragement. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Thanks for Nothing! Given that the majority of young people are in heterogeneous, multiracial, multiethnic, integrated, coeducational academic settings, what can we do??? CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Finding Solutions Reality checks and attitude adjustments. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Start by Admitting There is a Difference x Encourage young people in computing to express and explore ways in which they feel different. x Organize around difference to make it easier for them to own it. x Encourage them to begin building support groups that will help support and sustain them. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Never Expect Less Of your students x encourage high expectations x give them tools, not excuses Of yourself x always be aware of your own programs x don¡¯t forget, you can¡¯t fix everything but every day you make a BIG difference CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Specific Suggestions x Group specific activities/access x Role models x Support groups x Management skills x Resources CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Role Models x Model equity in your classroom. x On-line mentoring programs. x Classroom speakers. Try to avoid token over-achievers who scare young people into thinking they could never be the perfect rocket scientist, spouse, parent.... CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Just for Us x Classes x Project groups x Lab time x Mentoring x Career Counseling CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Celebrating Your Inner Nerd x Technology clubs x Pocket protector day x Don¡¯t comb your hair day x Short pants day CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Skills Training x Time management x Presentation skills x Stress management x Resume/interview preparation CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Resources x Get the Guidance people on track. x Explore mass media. x Get a good guide to careers in computing. x Novels like Microserfs and 82 Desire. x Find good technology websites. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
Why You Are So Important x Ask any child who their heroes are. x Now ask any successful adult. ¡°L¡¯education nous faisait ce que nous sommes¡± Helvetius CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson

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Edtl 6390

  • 1. Equity Begins with Recognizing Diversity Chris Stephenson University of Toronto CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 2. Defining the Terms Fairness x I get what I want/need. Justice x Good people get rewarded and bad people get punished Equity x Everyone gets what they need to achieve their full potential CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 3. Chris¡¯ List of Scary Words x Class/ Socioeconomic status x Ethnicity/Race x Gender x Physical abilities/attributes x Religion/Faith/Culture CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 4. Chris¡¯ Key Concepts Privilege x perks we take for granted Prejudice x lies we are taught to believe Preconceptions x programs we run in our heads which may have no connection to reality CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 5. What I Offer You Today Ideas I¡¯ve collected over 16 years of research on technological equity as it relates to: x disability x race/ethnicity x class/socioeconomic status x gender CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 6. What I Ask of You Today x Keep an open mind x Keep an open heart x Keep me honest by challenging my assumptions and programs CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 7. The Science Problem ¡° If you are going to be a woman scientist, you either have to change how you see science or how you see yourself¡± Suzanne K. Damarin The Ohio State University CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 8. The Media Message x All scientists are crazy, or weird, or both: ¨C the Unabomber ¨C Rain Man ¨C Dr. Frankenstein x Its in the genes. x Its about torturing small animals. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 9. Defining the Problem ¡° We are witnessing the fracturing of the democratic institutions that hold us together. The possibility for an information underclass is growing.¡± The Benton Foundation Report CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 10. The Costs of Inequity The creation of groups of technological have¡¯s and have not¡¯s will have enormous negative ramifications. x Economic x Social x Moral CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 11. People Without Jobs x 60% of all jobs..require technology skills x 75% of all transactions between individuals and government ..take place electronically. People without technology skills or access to electronic communication will be at considerable disadvantage.¡± Goslee, 1998 CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 12. Jobs Without People IT employs more people and creates more jobs than traditional industries combined. x 71% of large and mid-sized companies report that demands exceed skilled workers x 1 job waiting to be filled for every 10 x computer programming is expected to grow by 21 to 35% over the next 10 years CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 13. The Underrepresented 720,000 women work in the IT industry. They represent 30% of its labour force. x 81% are white x 10% are Asian American x 6% are African American x 3% are Hispanic x <1% are Native North American CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 14. Emotional Cost Inequities of access and use among segments of the population lead to: x disenfranchisement x disillusion x disintegration of the social fabric CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 15. Examining the Inequities CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 16. Consider the ¡°ability¡± and Not the ¡®dis¡¯ ¡° I don¡¯t want to be viewed as ¡®normal,¡¯, but, rather as gifted and unique. Everyone lacks some ability. We are all gifted and unique in our own way.¡± DO ? IT News Vol. 8, No.2 CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 17. Defining Disability The term ¡°disability¡± itself is problematic. x educational x medical/rehabilitative x social x cultural CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 18. Disability vs Culture Many Deaf people reject the entire idea of disability in favour of self- defining as part of Deaf Culture. x a common history x a visual orientation to the world x a unique language (ASL) CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 19. Disability in Education Traditional views of disability are expanding in education to include auditory, visual, and behavioural learning disabilities. x Greater likelihood that students will be integrated into regular classrooms. x Schools are providing new levels of assisted learning. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 20. Disability in Education Students with disabilites take fewer science and math courses. Overall they: x have lower grade and achievement scores, x are underrepresented among those with degrees, x are underrepresented in the workplace. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 21. Breaking the Pattern ¡°If we can provide all students with true equity of access, we can break that cycle of the haves and the have nots. The cycle of welfare..is not an entrenched society but a pervasive society. If we can break that pervasive society, we¡¯ve got it made.¡± Sharon McCoy Bell CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 22. Race/Ethnicity Factors x 32.9% of African American students own a home computer compared to 73% of white students x 9% of African Americans are likely to use the Web at home compared to 14% of white Americans x 2.8% of African Americans are likely to purchase a home computer compared to 10% of white Americans CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 23. High School Computing In 1999 11,793 students took the AP Computer Science ¡°AB¡± exam x 9% women compared to 91% men x 65% were white x 22% were Asian American x 5% were African American x 5% were Hispanic x 3% were ¡°other¡± CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 24. College Students entering public black colleges are the least likely of all freshmen to report using the Internet for email and research. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 25. Socioeconomic Factors x 20% of students from households earning less than $30,000 per year have a home computer compared to 80% in homes with incomes higher than $75,000 x 43.5 of families on public assistance do not have telephones x 50% of female-headed households living in poverty do not have phones CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 26. It is Where You Come From Students in areas with a large portion of poor and minority students are much less likely to have technology access. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 27. Gender Factors ¡° Women working in science and technology are doubly marked, doubly silenced, and doubly denied.¡± Suzanne K. Damarin The Ohio State University CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 28. The Generation Between High school girls are a generation caught in the middle: x more career options and expectations, x more access to technology, x still subject to enormous peer and social pressure concerning difference, x less comfortable with technology than elementary students. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 29. Lies We Tell Our Daughters x Girls are different. x Girls aren¡¯t different. x Science is neutral. x Its okay to be smart and a girl. x Life is fair. x There are no limitations. x Having a career doesn¡¯t mean sacrificing your personal life. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 30. What They Ask Themselves x How come I feel different? x Why is science/technology boring? x If they know I¡¯m smart will they like me? x Are there going to be any jobs left for me? x How come my Mom still does most of the housework as well as her full time job? CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 31. What We Know For Sure Virtually every study on gender equity and technology in education concludes that male and female students are treated differently: x males receive more attention, x males receive more praise, x males have greater access to resources, x males are encouraged to pursue a greater variety of careers. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 32. What Really Works The only thing that seems to guarantee gender equity and success in science and technology is single-sex education where girls do not have to compete for: x resources, x attention, x encouragement. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 33. Thanks for Nothing! Given that the majority of young people are in heterogeneous, multiracial, multiethnic, integrated, coeducational academic settings, what can we do??? CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 34. Finding Solutions Reality checks and attitude adjustments. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 35. Start by Admitting There is a Difference x Encourage young people in computing to express and explore ways in which they feel different. x Organize around difference to make it easier for them to own it. x Encourage them to begin building support groups that will help support and sustain them. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 36. Never Expect Less Of your students x encourage high expectations x give them tools, not excuses Of yourself x always be aware of your own programs x don¡¯t forget, you can¡¯t fix everything but every day you make a BIG difference CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 37. Specific Suggestions x Group specific activities/access x Role models x Support groups x Management skills x Resources CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 38. Role Models x Model equity in your classroom. x On-line mentoring programs. x Classroom speakers. Try to avoid token over-achievers who scare young people into thinking they could never be the perfect rocket scientist, spouse, parent.... CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 39. Just for Us x Classes x Project groups x Lab time x Mentoring x Career Counseling CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 40. Celebrating Your Inner Nerd x Technology clubs x Pocket protector day x Don¡¯t comb your hair day x Short pants day CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 41. Skills Training x Time management x Presentation skills x Stress management x Resume/interview preparation CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 42. Resources x Get the Guidance people on track. x Explore mass media. x Get a good guide to careers in computing. x Novels like Microserfs and 82 Desire. x Find good technology websites. CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson
  • 43. Why You Are So Important x Ask any child who their heroes are. x Now ask any successful adult. ¡°L¡¯education nous faisait ce que nous sommes¡± Helvetius CS & IT Symposium June 25, 2000 ? Chris Stephenson