Paved with Good Intentions
Tue Apr 17, 2007 02:28:11 PM by Travis
I read an interesting article today on trying to get more women to major in computer science in U.S. colleges. What grabbed my attention was the techniques they're using to draw more women to the field:
"Moving emphasis away from programming proficiency was a key to the success of programs Dr. Blum and her colleagues at Carnegie Mellon instituted to draw more women into computer science."
This disturbs me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for more women in the field - but not if it means changing what computer science is. Moving the focus away from programming skills in computer science programs is like moving the focus away from engine mechanics skills in car mechanics programs. Sure, you can probably be a car mechanic without a strong basis in how an engine works, but you're not going to be a good one.
They worry that the decrease of women joining the field is a bad sign, and I agree. I don't think the answer is to try and downplay one of the key proficiencies that a computer scientist should have.
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