Promoting Girls' Interest in Technology through Technology Education: A Research Study

Ingelore, M. (2004). Promoting Girls' Interest in Technology through Technology Education: A Research Study. International Journal of Technology & Design Education, 14, 89-100.

In this article, the author sought to investigate girls' interest in technology and ways to increase that interest. The reason for the study was the low numbers of women receiving technolgy-based degrees and persuing technical occupations, leading to gender discrimination. The study was performed in Germany, in four third grade classrooms. Interest levels of the boys and girls were determined by a survey. After exposure of a treatment group to technology education, two of the classrooms had the effects of the treatment measured with a second survey. The other two classrooms were control groups and had no technical training, but were also given a second survey. The surveys were compared and results showed that the interest of both boys and girls were heightened by the education, and gender differences reduced dramatically.


The findings of this study suggest that it is essential to intensify technology education in elementary school because it is the earliest opportunity to diminish gender differences in technical occupations in the future. I think this was a good article with a good message, and that technology can help students in a lot of ways. It should be incorporated into the classroom as a universal method to aid student learning. Dina always talks about the automatic door... it was made for disabled people but ended up helping all people. I think this is a good analogy for technology in the classroom as well.