Building new clubhouses: Opening doors to computing for girls and boys with electronic textiles
Document Type
Presentation
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association
Publication Date
4-1-2013
Abstract
We examine a new type of computer clubhouse where 35 ninth graders aged 14-15 enrolled in workshops designed around learning with e-textiles. We study whether students were able to access computer science through e-textiles and how the ways in which circuitry, coding, and crafting are gendered influenced students’ participation. Our findings indicate that students found initial entry points to computing through one domain of e-textiles (crafting, circuitry, or coding) most often consistent with their own gender, but that this opened the door for them to identify with other domains as well. We unpack the changing relationships students experienced through designing with e-textiles and suggest further ways that e-textiles could be expanded to broaden participation in computing through new clubhouses.
Recommended Citation
Searle, K. A.*, Kafai, Y. B. & Fields, D. A. (2013, April). Building new clubhouses: Opening doors to computing for girls and boys with electronic textiles. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. *Winner of Best Student Paper Award, Media, Culture & Curriculum SIG.
