Journal Review 3

Getting Girls EX.I.T.E.D About Project Management
By Bjorn Norstrom, Carol Smith, and Annika Haglund

Everyday students are required to complete many tasks that involve utilizing technology based tools. The problem with this is that, not all students are always properly educated, or equipped to accomplish these tasks, especially the more complicated ones. A school in Colchester, Vermont came up with their own solution to this problem.

IBM puts on an annual summer camp called Exploring Interests in Technology and Engineering, or EX.I.T.E. The camp is geared towards getting middle school aged girls enthusiastic about science and technology along with IBM engineers. The IBM/Colchester Middle School liaison, Annika Haglund, teamed up with the EX.I.T.E representatives, to come up with a program to teach girls project management. The program was based around four main goals: the establishment of a long term relationship between mentor and mentoree, introduce the girls to product management with a connection to technology skills, encourage young girls to pursue careers in sciences and technology, and to develop a model that could be followed in a school setting on collaborating around technology.

The original pilot project was a weekly EX.I.T.E club that met after school hours. Eventually the club began meeting everyday after school, with a closer, more hands on relationship with their IBM mentors. The girls soon became much more task orientated, and took ownership over the projects of the club. Girls who had been shy or introverted were suddenly coming out of their shells, both in and outside of the club. Through collaboration of the pedagogy of the teachers, and the experience and technological skill of the IBM mentors together created amazing strengths for the project.


Question 1: How as a teacher this is relevant to me?
Answer 1: Well not only as a teacher, but as a female teacher, this entire article was fascinating to me. Even in today’s day and age, with the leaps and bounds taken towards equality, men still hold all of the math, engineering, and technology based careers--or rather, a majority of the highest paying professions. This club, and summer camp to be geared complexly towards young girls is completely liberating. It is inspiring girls to get out into the areas they were maybe hesitant towards approaching, and gives them the skills they need to thrive in the areas.

Question 2: How could this be made into an effective program at a school I may teach at?
Answer 2: After reading this article I would love to get involved with a program like this, and begin the processes of getting it effectively established in my school. Many times girls just need a strong push, or spark to get them excited about something. I would love to be a part of that spark or excitement for them. Also, when I was younger I was always fascinated by science, and technology, I heavily considered some sort of IBM based career, so it would be a learning experience for me as well.