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Girls, Games, and STEM Education – Yes they all go together!
For years researchers have noticed that few women are choosing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). To address this problem, “A group of industry and academic leaders gathered at Northeastern’s Seattle campus with what just might be a solution to that problem: video games.”
The group is called; “Girls GAMES, short for Girls Advancing in Math, Engineering, and Science, is a new collaboration between university partners and gaming companies in Seattle aimed at promoting STEM careers for women through the development of educational games. Though the main event is being held in Seattle … We know games can engage kids to learn, so let’s use games for real learning, and let’s use games to advance girls’ learning, interest, and aspirations in STEM,” said Tayloe Washburn, dean and CEO of Northeastern’s graduate campus in Seattle.”
Related articles
- Guiding girl gamers to STEM careers (stuff.co.nz)
- Games to keep teenage girls enthralled with math, science (seattletimes.com)
Gates Foundation sponsors game-based learning
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/game-based-learning-1478744.html
“Game-based learning is one of the priorities of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the Microsoft creator. . . .Two years ago, the nonprofit brought together 20 of the country’s best assessment designers with 20 of the world’s best game designers to discuss creating games that engage kids more deeply, said Vicki Phillips, director of the college ready strategy for the Gates Foundation. Now the foundation is working with the Center for Game Science at the University of Washington on a free, online game called Refraction. As students play, their progress is visible to the teacher on his or her computer, allowing the educator to see instantly what concepts students understand.” – Jamie Sarrio
Gaming and Education 