UB-Squeaky Wheel Project Gives Urban Girls a Leg Up in the Use of New Technologies

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo has teamed up with Squeaky Wheel/Buffalo Media Resources to offer a unique, extracurricular arts-and-technology outreach program for disadvantaged, early-adolescent girls in grades 5-7 that is designed to help them overcome the technological gender gap.

The project is headed by Mary Flanagan, assistant professor in the UB Department of Media Study in the College of Arts and Sciences and an award-winning producer/designer of educational software and multimedia.

Flanagan says techARTS not only will help girls learn skills they may have few opportunities to develop elsewhere, but give them an opportunity to meet and interact with women mentors and role models working in the fields of art, science and technology.

"Learning about computers and creative-arts software will help girls gain confidence using technology," Flanagan says. "But access to technology is only one of the issues addressed by the project. The girls' learning styles and interests also will be considered in our approach to technology education.

"techARTS offers Buffalo's urban girls a positive learning environment and a chance to meet and learn from real-life women who work creatively with new technologies," she says. "That's what makes this program unique locally and nationally."

The project's pilot phase will take place during the fall semester and will involve up to 30 girls referred by nonprofit organizations in the City of Buffalo, including Hispanics United, Weed and Seed, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo. Participants will meet every Saturday until mid-December at Squeaky Wheel, Buffalo's only full-service, media-arts center.

There they will work with women computer scientists and media professionals who use computer technology in their creative work and who will serve as mentors.

Flanagan said that during the semester:

o Participants will be taught fun, exciting computer programs by Squeaky Wheel staff and staff assistants who are UB computer-art and media-study majors.

o They will work in teams to produce digital science and art projects, gaining experience in the use of technology for creative purposes. Squeaky Wheel's equipment will be supplemented by additional computer equipment from UB.

o At one meeting per month, a well-known guest -- a woman computer scientist or artist who uses computer technologies in her work -- will speak, answer questions about her career and discuss why she chose her field.

o At sessions that follow, the girls will engage in hands-on activities related to the artistic medium or techniques of the guest speaker.

o The last two sessions will feature a final project production and an exhibition of work produced by the girls.

The project's pilot phase will be funded through a $9,800 grant from the Faculty Development Public Service Initiative in the Office of the UB Vice President for Public Service and Urban Affairs. Project funding has been extended through next summer by a $13,300 grant from RGK Foundation of Austin, Texas. Flanagan said permanent funding is being sought. .

Flanagan points to recent educational surveys that find that children still see scientists in terms of the stereotypical white male in a lab coat.

"It's important here that special attention has been paid to women who use and make technology," she said. "This will provide the girls with positive, female technologist role models who can encourage exploration, creative thinking, problem solving and originality in computer use."

Flanagan points to other educational studies that found that collaboration versus competition, one-on-one instruction and role modeling work well to help interest girls in the use of new computer technologies.

She adds that although the project is now concentrated on the needs of urban girls, the response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive from suburban groups as well. In response, it is likely that techARTS ultimately will be expanded to include girls who live outside the city.