Study: girls better at tech solutions

A new US study shows that eighth-grade girls are better than boys at thinking through problems and using technology to solve them.

Overall, it is a skill that about 43 percent of eighth-graders – Secondary Two in Hong Kong – sufficiently possess.

The findings come from a first-of-its-kind assessment of technology and engineering literacy by The Nation’s Report Card.

The 2014 assessment had 21,500 students in 840 schools tackle real-life challenges on computers, such as designing a safe bicycle lane and improving a pet iguana’s habitat.

The report found that 45 percent of girls and 42 percent of boys scored at or above proficient at understanding and using technology to develop solutions. In other words, girls scored three points higher than boys.

Bill Bushaw of the National Assessment Governing Board says girls should be encouraged to recognise that they possess the skills needed for technical careers.

Higher-performing eighth-grade students were more likely to engage in technology and engineering activities in and out of school.

Looking closer, female students scored higher in the areas of Information and Communication Technology, Communicating and Collaborating and the Developing Solutions, and Achieving Goals practices.

(This article is published on Junior Standard on 23 May 2016)

National report card technology & Engineering literacy
http://goo.gl/fxxLBO

How school teachers’ biases can discourage girls from math and science
http://goo.gl/q4spTk