Classroom Connection:

I work with LatinX communities and some of the students in these communities are children or have moved to this country from Central America. Introducing students to a Latina born in Central America with great accomplishments in computer science and as an entrepreneur can inspire these students to pursue computer science careers.

Want to know more about her

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciagallardo/?originalSubdomain=uk 

https://www.innovatorsunder35.com/the-list/luc%C3%AD-gallardo/ 

Classroom Connection:

One of the problems I have been investigating in schools is the reason to why female students are not motivated to be in physical science advanced courses or computer science. Some of the reasons that I have found have been teacher’s bias and intention to motivate female students. Introducing Cecilia’s story might be inspiring for female students to overcome barriers and obstacles that are placed by the system and by their own teachers.

Want to know more:

https://www.hcde.washington.edu/aragon 

https://ceciliaaragonauthor.com/

Daisy's parents brought her to the US while fleeing from civil war in Nicaragua. Daisy was a winner of CSU Monterey Bay Cohort 5 App Development Capstone Project

IMPACT: She was a founder of the Twitter International Team for Twitter in the Spanish language. She is CEO of Atipica, a software development company for using AI to hire people without bias.

Classroom Integration Connection: She could serve as a role model for girls, especially Latinas. Information on her (and other notable women in STEM) could be integrated with Kodable’s Hour of Code: Women in Tech: Past, Present and Future! 

LINK: https://raisingsmartgirls.com/latina-women-in-stem/

IMPACT: Co-founder of Black in AI and founder of Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute. She is an advocate for law enforcement to not use facial recognition because of algorithmic bias. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including Fortune magazine naming her among the world’s 50 greatest leaders. Her journey has not been easy, but she has been very visible at many of the big name STEM businesses. 

Classroom Integration Connection: She could serve as a role model for girls, especially students of color. Information on her (and other notable women in STEM) could be integrated with Kodable’s Hour of Code: Women in Tech: Past, Present and Future! 

LINK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timnit_Gebru

CLASSROOM INTEGRATION: Lyndsey goes to show that you can be intelligent as well as valued for your beauty on the outside. I would focus on the fact that she has degrees in CS related fields, but happens to do modelling because she was asked to. Having skills is important.

LINK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndsey_Scott

CLASSROOM INTEGRATION: Using Klara as only ONE example of women contributing solely to the success of a project, invention, or discovery, I would explain the implications and consequences of society allowing people to take credit for others' work due to their privilege or societal standards...and discuss why this must be changed and actively recognized currently and retroactively.

LINK:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/unheralded-women-scientists-finally-getting-their-due-180973082/

• Roboticist who lives in Austin, TX

• Project manager for Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig’s "Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (4th Edition), most widely used AI textbook in the world.

• Partner with GoogleX, a lab that takes technological moon shots.

• Uses Robotics in the hospitality industry.

• Advocate for STEM education.

CLASSROOM INTEGRATION:

• They will be included in a collection of slides for Trailblazing Women to provide inspiration/role models.

LINK:

https://www.csedweek.org/cs-heroes/cynthia-yeung

Sophie has experienced the field of CS from various perspectives as a Trans woman who began her transition while working in the field of CS in England.

Howard worked at NASA Jet Propulsion from 1993 to 2005, where she held multiple roles including senior robotics researcher and deputy manager in the Office of the Chief Scientist.

In 2008, she received worldwide attention for her SnoMote robots, designed to study the impact of global warming on the Antarctic ice shelves. In 2013, she founded Zyrobotics, which has released their first suite of therapy and educational products for children with special needs.

Classroom Integration Connection: 

The lesson will be about the future of Robotics and the difference between Robotics and AI.  Ayanna will be introduced because she has made an impact for both.  She was just doing something she loves and made it into a career.  The goal will be to use Robotics to engage students and hopefully grow their interest in learning more.

LINK:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayanna_Howard

In 2006, Washington became an assistant professor of CS at Howard University, where she was the first Black woman CS faculty. At Howard University, Washington helped develop Google's "Google In Residence" program.

Classroom Integration Connection: The lesson would be about how to be successful as a Computer Scientist and still embrace your culture.  I would instruct my students on how they can become “Unapologetically Dope”. You can be smart, successful and still be dope.

LINK:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Nicki_Washington

Her determination makes her a valuable role model for young girls who find a passionate interest at a young age. As a private tutor, this inspires me to use her determination to follow her dream as a springboard to help my students find their dream and start a plan to work toward the dream.

Arati's accomplishments, and work history is extensive, but the most interesting to me are her role as Director of DARPA (US Defense Advance Research Projects Agency) from 2012-2017 and her current roles (since October 2022) as the 12th Director of the White House of Science and Technology Policy and Science Advisor to the President.

Her impact in these roles is important to all Americans. With DARPA, she oversaw projects that enhanced the abilities of our military to carry out their important work. Her work at the White House impacts where our country goes with science and technology.

As a teacher, we had our students do a deep study on one person and "become" that person in our class wax museum. I would love to use Dr. Prabhakar as an example project.

Classroom Integration Connection: In lessons on AI and machine learning, Dr. Li’s work on ImageNet can be a focal point to discuss the evolution of computer vision. Students could engage in a project that involves training a simple image recognition model, understanding the principles of deep learning and the real-world applications of this technology.

Resource Link:

https://profiles.stanford.edu/fei-fei-li

Classroom Integration Connection: In a computer science lesson, Dr. Jackson's work can be highlighted in a unit on telecommunications and networking. Students can explore how her research contributed to the technologies we use today. This could lead to a project where students design their own telecommunications solution or experiment with basic fiber optic communications, linking historical achievements with practical, hands-on learning.

LINK:

https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/shirley-ann-jackson/

She serves as an inspiration for young women and particularly for African American women in STEM. Her success demonstrates that it is possible to achieve high academic and professional levels in fields traditionally underrepresented by women and minorities.

Classroom Connection:

She could be included in a discussion of high versus low level languages and the value of abstractions both procedural and data. Excerpts of her 2022 SIGCSE keynote could be shared. The gender distribution on Turing awards allows for a discussion about equity and improving representation as well.

Links:

https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/liskov_1108679.cfm https://slate.com/technology/2020/01/turing-award-acm-women-recipients.html

Classroom Integration Connection:

When discussing computational thinking and the value of decomposition, abstraction, algorithmic thinking, etc for students as they begin programming, a discussion of her and her research can be included. You can even include a discussion regarding the newness of computer science education and inviting the students to help you in innovating and improving your class.

Link: https://datascience.columbia.edu/people/jeannette-m-wing/

Classroom Integration Connection: I chose Ellen Ochoa to research because I have a large Hispanic population in my classes this year.  I don’t think Hispanic girls see themselves as part of the STEM field, and I want them to see successful role models that they can relate with.  Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space in the world!

LINK: https://raisingsmartgirls.com/latina-women-in-stem/

LINK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Vaughan

I teach a course titled Biomedical Innovations, in which we discuss environmental health. Carson's book Silent Spring is an incredibly important resource when discussing the relationship between the body and the environment.

https://www.history.com/news/rachel-carson-silent-spring-impact-environmental-movement

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/meet-rosalind-franklin-a-sidelined-figure-in-the-history-of-dna-science

Classroom Integration: She provides frameworks and ideas on how we should deliver computer science content to students. Role model for students.

Link: https://education.ufl.edu/faculty/israel-maya/

She has made a great impact on helping states work on developing successful models that broaden participation in computer science for K-12 students. She has worked to connect states together, to foster collaboration, and expand equitable practices for all to use.

Classroom Connection: She is a pinnacle source for educators to learn and connect with to truly make state change happen at the policy level to broaden CS participation. She can be a role model for students and show how you can push the button further than you could ever imagine.

Link: https://ecepalliance.org/news/2023/02/14/ecep-welcomes-andrea-wilson-vazquez-its-new-deputy-director/

https://education.mn.gov/MDE/about/news/PROD082692

Vaughan's impact shows how black women are essential as anyone else in solving problems.

IMPACT: She first started working at NASA in 1992, and has been instrumental in the agency’s aeronautic research efforts. She’s also the 2014 recipient of NASA’s Public Service award, for her contributions in encouraging students, minorities, and women to pursue STEM careers.

Classroom Integration Connection: I can include a lesson about her for Women's Month or during Ramadan.

Link: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/muslim-women-in-stem-to-know

Impact: Inspired to place one million girls in code by 2040.

Classroom Integration Connection: I'm planning to share this during Black History Month and keep my students aware of events and contests they can participate in.

Link: https://www.wearebgc.org/

IMPACT : Graduated UC Berkeley with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. She was hired as the first female game developer at Atari. She designed and developed the hit game "River Raid".

CLASSROOM INTEGRATION CONNECTION : I teach game development at my high school. I plan to share Carol's achievement to my first year students to inspire all of them.

LINK : https://www.atariwomen.org/stories/carol-shaw/

IMPACT : Roberta Williams was a house wife with no experience in gaming or computers – only in storytelling. She was inspired by text adventure games. She went on to create the first graphical adventure as a computer game in 1979.

CLASSROOM INTEGRATION CONNECTION : I teach game development at my high school. I plan to share Roberta's achievement to my first year students to inspire all of them.

LINK : https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/roberta-williams

Impact: Her masterful game design skills allowed her to create a masterpiece for the games which paves the way for future women in gaming.

Classroom Integration Connection: A lot of my students would really be interested in CS and furthering their knowledge when they realize this could mean a career in programming video games.

Link: https://www.atariwomen.org/stories/carol-shaw/

Impact: Graduated Amherst College with a dual major in Theatre and Computer Science. She splits her time between acting and being a iOS Software Engineer.

Classroom Integration Connection: This is something that could really connect with and influence some of my african american student, or my students who, in general, thing a career in CS isn't influential.

Link: https://www.lyndseyscott.com/bio

Ada Lovelace was a British mathematician and writer that imagined the modern-day computer back in the 1800s. Computer programs use her theorized method for a process known as looping. Unfortunately, her method was never tested but it was seen to be the first published algorithm ever implemented for a computer.

Classroom Integration Lesson: Digital Smart Cards

As I teach digital art, we will design information cards of those women and their achievements who have contributed to computer science. Students will create digitally designed cards the size of a playing card. Each card will be carefully designed to visually showcase their contribution and as well as a photo/portrait. They will be called a “smart card” as they will have a QR code linking to further information on careers in computer science.

Link:

https://www.womenintech.co.uk/celebrating-ada-lovelace/#:~:text=Lovelace%20was%20also%20the%20first,for%20implementation%20on%20a%20computer.

The first American women in space and an award-winning academic career at the University of California, San Diego, where her expertise was sought on all matters related to space. 

Integrated Lesson: Sharing her achievement on International Women’s Day. In the past we have created penants to celebrate important people. This could be repeated to celebrate gender equity.

https://science.nasa.gov/people/sally-ride/#hds-sidebar-nav-1

Her passion is increasing STEM learning opportunities for young women of color and students from under-resourced communities.

She is responsible for Girls Who Code club, Middle & High School

CSTA Equity Fellow

Code.org CS Fundamentals Facilitator

Creating a handbook for CS Educators about equity in CS for underrepresented student groups

Classroom Integration Connection: In addressing the lack of women representation, we can highlight activism work of Anita Borg and how her work has had lasting impact to continue the fight after her passing. Women and Non-binary students going into tech will likely encounter the Grace Hopper Conference, or can be made away of inclusive spaces are being made (though also acknowledging that the conference does not always reach its intent with the 2023 controversies with the conference)

Link: anitab.org , Brittanica Entry

Classroom Connections: With AI, data science, and machine learning being hot topics in Computer Science, I think it's important to note the more recent contributions women have made that are continuing to define the field.

Source: https://data.berkeley.edu/people/jennifer-chayes

IMPACT: Joy Buolamwini does research in artificial intelligence, specifically as it relates to racial and gender bias.  Her TED Talk examines ways to fight bias in algorithms based on her experiences with facial recognition software not detecting her own skin tone and what she did to address the issue.

Classroom Integration Connection: Joy Buolamwini’s research and experience are relevant as we teach students about AI and its bias.  When only certain groups work on projects, then that bias gets reflected in the final product.  Lack of diversity of thought and input results in a limited outcome.  In the age of generative AI, ask students to look for bias in LLMs like ChatGPT and Bing, then discuss the ways Buolamwini fights back against this bias and teach students to fight too.

LINK: https://www.ted.com/talks/joy_buolamwini_how_i_m_fighting_bias_in_algorithms

IMPACT: Maryam Mirzakhani was a mathematician and the first woman to win the Field Medal in 2014.  She saw the beauty in patterns and often times sat drawing and sketching out the problems she was working on.  She made contributions to the theory of moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces and Teichmuller dynamics of moduli space.  Throughout her life she was highly regarded and continues to be posthumously by mathematical societies around the world.

Classroom Integration Connection: While Maryam Mirzakhani was not a pioneer in computer science, she was in mathematics and broke many barriers.  She is an outstanding example of someone who lived her passion.  Her awarding of the Fields Medal and contributions to various mathematical theories continues to resonate within these communities and demonstrated a persistence within a field that is historically not welcoming to people who are different.  Mirzakhani was a role model to many female mathematicians during her life and she can continue to inspire young girls in STEM.

LINK: https://blogs.ams.org/inclusionexclusion/2017/07/24/remembering-maryam-mirzakhani/

Yasmin Abdi (Somalian-American)

IMPACT: 

Ms. Abdi is a 27-year-old Security Engineering Manager at Snapchat and the CEO and Founder of NoHack from the DMV. Ms. Abdi is a Somalian woman from the DMV who immigrated with her family to the U.S. when she was younger.  Although she grew up mostly in Northern Virginia (Ashburn), she attended the University of Maryland (UMD) and pursued her Computer Science degree. While a UMD, she started a CS club for women called Ladies of Computer Science (LOCS).

Classroom Integration Connection:

Many of my female students also aspire to attend UMD for college. Yasmin is a smart and beautiful role model who can show teenage girls how leadership, initiative, and persistence can take you far in only a little time.

LINK:

https://www.nohackllc.com/a-word-from-our-ceo

https://www.instagram.com/yazabdi/?hl=en

Symoné "Beez" Berry (American)

IMPACT: 

Ms. Berry is a 31-year-old Security Engineering Manager at Snapchat and the CEO and Founder of NoHack from the DMV. Symoné is a minority woman from the DMV who grew up in Northern Virginia (Arlington) in a single-parent household. “Beez” played basketball in high school and attended the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where she pursued her Computer Science degree. She went from making $0 to $300K by working in the government tech (GovTech) industry. In addition to her full-time job, she is also a content creator on TikTok and Instagram (over 180K followers) who provides technical skills and training in the GovTech industry. She also interviews many minorities in the IT field and focuses on demystifying IT industry misconceptions (career paths, pay, skill sets, mindsets). 

Classroom Integration Connection:

Many of my female students also aspire to work for the U.S. Government and get a security clearance. Symoné is a smart and beautiful role model who can show teenage girls how personal drive, networking, and entrepreneurship can change their lives and the lives of others.

LINK:

https://www.symonebeez.com/

tiktok.com/@symonebeez

Dr. Fei-Fei Li is considered the "godmother" of artificial intelligence. She is a Chinese-born American computer scientist that is a co-director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and a co-director of the Stanford Vision and Learning Lab.

Classroom Connection to the Saskatchewan Computer Science 20 curriculum:

CS20-CS1: Explore the underlying technology of computing devices and the internet, and their impacts on society.

CS20-CS2: Investigate the impacts of information technologies on privacy, including digital security practices.

CS20-CE1

Explore computer science related career paths in Saskatchewan, Canada and the world.

I would have students read the interview with Fei-Fei Li and reflect on her impact on AI research and how AI impacts society.

For more information: "AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li: ‘I’m more concerned about the risks that are here and now’", The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/nov/05/ai-pioneer-fei-fei-li-im-more-concerned-about-the-risks-that-are-here-and-now

Katherine Johnson (nee Coleman) was the physicist and mathematician whose calculations were critical to NASA missions sending astronauts into orbit and to the moon. Hired as a "computer" for NASA in 1953, she considered her greatest accomplishment to be her calculations that facilitated the historic first moon landing in 1969. Her story is chronicled in the movie Hidden Figures.

Classroom Connections to the Saskatchewan Computer Science 20 Curriculum:

CS20-CS1: Explore the underlying technology of computing devices and the internet, and their impacts on society.

I would show the interview with Katherine Johnson and lead a class discussion on the impact of early women "computers".

For more information: Nasa: "Katherine Johnson Biography" https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/katherine-johnson-biography/

STEM Impact: Lucía Gallardo, a “serial entrepreneur”, has a history of combining emerging technologies with solving social issues. She is passionate about making tech culture gender neutral and equitable. She also believes in technological justice, or democratizing who has access to use/create technological tools.

Classroom Integration Connection: 

Our fourth graders just completed a social studies and literacy unit on social activism and persuasive communication. I would like to include biographical information on Gallardo (we have a relatively high number of Latinas in our program, some of whom share Gallardo’s immigrant background) and also have the students further investigate ways emerging technology has been used to address social issues and to try and imagine new technologies that could be used to address current social issues.

LINK:

https://www.luciagallardo.com/

https://www.emergetechlab.com/#about

Classroom Integration Connection: 

My fourth graders will soon be starting a unit that is based on science fiction (literacy component) and how the human brain processes/uses our senses (science component). A major focus of ours will be how science fiction enables us to imagine different futures. A biographical look at Diana Albarrán-Chicas can highlight the theme of “redefine possible.” Through this mini-study, many of my students will see new pathways open up for themselves as they see their early lives mirrored in hers. Seeing her success in engineering and aerospace and leading major projects will help promote visions of equity. This will be paired with writing code to work with sensor input from an Ozobot, a micro:bit, or a Raspberry Pi. 

LINK: 

https://mites.mit.edu/news-and-articles/from-strawberry-fields-in-california-to-space-travel-to-mars/

Impact: Elizabeth Feinler helped develop the internal URL system.  This system includes popular domains used today such as .com, .edu, and .org.  She also managed the NASA Science Internet.

Classroom Integration Connection: As a librarian who teaches information literacy, I immediately made a connection to Elizabeth Feinler.  Students today have never lived without the internet so showing them that this woman was an integral part in the development of a system we rely on heavily for research and information would be a great way to integrate her accomplishments in the classroom.  Students are very familiar with searching the internet so introducing them to a pivotal woman who helped develop it is a great way to promote gender equity.

Link:  https://www.witi.com/halloffame/359632/Elizabeth--Feinler-Internet-Pioneer-Active-Volunteer/

Impact: Radia Perlman invented the Spanning Tree Protocol used to help deliver data reliably on the internet.  Her design ensured that networks could communicate even if active links failed.  Additionally, she has 80 different patents in the computer science field.

Classroom Integration Connection: The Spanning Tree Protocol was crucial in the development of network security and was the response to a problem Local Area Networks were having with network organization.  As we teach the design process and problem-solving skills to students, Radia Perlman’s accomplishments could be used to illustrate how innovation can originate from anyone including women.

Link: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/big-thinkers/mother-of-internet.htm

Impact: Project manager for the publication of Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig’s "Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (4th Edition)." Acknowledged as the most popular artificial intelligence textbook in the world.

Classroom. Integration: What is a Robot? This lesson would relate well to Lego robotics. The extension activity could transition to building their designed robot using Legos, and following with code.

https://scetv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eng06.sci.engin.design.lp_robot/what-is-a-robot/

https://www.csedweek.org/cs-heroes/cynthia-yeung

Classroom Integration Connection: One way Helen Greiner’s story could be integrated into a classroom computer science activity could be talking about various paths to being a computer scientist? I like that Helen was first inspired to pursue robotics when she first saw R2-D2 in Star Wars when she was 10 years old.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Greiner)

Classroom Integration Connection: Her story could be told in a unit about Artificial Intelligence. Veloso describes her research goals as the "effective construction of autonomous agents where cognition, perception, and action are combined to address planning, execution, and learning tasks".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuela_M._Veloso

Juliana co-founded Ushahidi, a non-profit company that “uses crowdsourced geolocation, mobile phone, and web reporting data to provide crisis reporting and information.”

She also co-founded BRCK, Inc. which has worked on developing better internet access in Kenya.

Juliana is also a TED Senior Fellow and an MIT Media Lab Fellow.  She is currently a member of the AI Ethics and Safety Advisory Committee for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Impacts on Society:

Juliana has helped to increase collaboration and creativity to find solutions to better connect people.

Link for more info: https://www.ted.com/speakers/juliana_rotich

IMPACT: In 1947, Daly achieved the milestone of becoming the first African-American woman in the United States to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University. Through her groundbreaking research, she explored the connections between cholesterol and heart disease, as well as the impact of cigarette smoking on lung health.

Classroom Integration Connection: Marie Maynard Daly's impact on science and society continues to resonate today. Her pioneering spirit, resilience in the face of adversity, and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge have inspired generations of researchers. As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor her legacy as a trailblazer in chemistry and a champion for diversity in STEM. As an ELA teacher, I will add Daly to my growing list of African Americans who have done amazing work.

LINK: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/unheralded-women-scientists-finally-getting-their-due-180973082/

IMPACT: Window Snyder is an esteemed American computer security expert. Throughout her career, she has held prominent security roles at Square, Inc., Apple, Fastly, Intel, and Mozilla Corporation. Additionally, she served as a senior security strategist at Microsoft. Snyder is recognized as a co-author of "Threat Modeling," a renowned guidebook on application security standards.

Classroom Integration Connection: Window Snyder, a computer security expert, has been sharing her knowledge about keeping computers safe at various events. As someone who is prominent on the CS scene today and has worked with tech companies, the students will recognize, an article on Snyder will be relevant to my students.

LINK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_Snyder

IMPACT: Mae Jemison's impact lies in her groundbreaking achievement as the first African American woman to travel in space, inspiring countless individuals, especially women and minorities, to pursue careers in STEM fields. Her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in STEM has fostered greater representation and opportunities for underrepresented groups in science and space exploration. Jemison's pioneering journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, breaking barriers, and realizing one's dreams regardless of societal limitations.

CLASSROOM INTEGRATION: Coding Simulation - Space Exploration Game: Design a coding activity where students create a space exploration game using block-based programming languages like Scratch. We can encourage students to incorporate elements inspired by Jemison's space journey, such as coding a spacecraft navigating through obstacles or collecting space artifacts. We can also emphasize the importance of creativity and problem-solving, mirroring Jemison's innovative spirit.

LINK: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mae-jemison

IMPACT: Chien-Shiung Wu's impact in the field of physics is monumental, particularly through her groundbreaking Wu experiment, which provided evidence against the conservation of parity and fundamentally reshaped the understanding of fundamental symmetries in nature. Her work played a crucial role in advancing the field of nuclear physics and contributed to the development of the Standard Model of particle physics. Wu's perseverance and dedication to scientific inquiry have cemented her legacy as one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, despite facing gender and racial discrimination during her career

CLASSROOM INTEGRATION: Interactive Timeline: Create an interactive timeline of Chien-Shiung Wu's life and career using digital tools or platforms like Google Slides, Canva, or TimelineJS. Include key milestones, discoveries, and challenges she faced, along with multimedia elements such as photos, videos, and quotes. Encourage students to explore and reflect on the impact of Wu's work on the field of physics and gender equality in STEM.

LINK: https://www.nps.gov/people/dr-chien-shiung-wu-the-first-lady-of-physics.htm

The purpose of focus of the woman in computer science: She is co-founder and chairperson of the national non-profit AI4ALL aimed at increasing inclusion and diversity in AI education.

List of impacts on computing the person made: Dr. Fei-Fei Li’s current research interests include cognitively inspired AI, machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, robotic learning, and AI+healthcare especially ambient intelligent systems for healthcare delivery.

Link: https://profiles.stanford.edu/fei-fei-li

Lucia was a persistent child from Honduras. She was always interested in fair treatment of everyone. She became an entrepreneur who worked hard to grow her company. Her ambitious nature paid off, as the MIT Technology Review named her one of the Innovators Under 35.

Quote:

“Technology should benefit everyone and advancement should have a sense of justice and inclusion within it.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Tereshkova

Classroom Connection: Dr. Tereshkova made it possible for many women have the opportunity to go into stem fields. She led the way for many women to get into Aviation as well as engineering and astrophysics. She was one of the first people to point out that it would make more sense to have female pilots and engineers because of our physiology and the ability to multitask while under immense pressure from forces outside of our body.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Rubin

Classroom Connection: Dr. Rubin's work comes up when teaching Gravitation and Keppler's Laws in Physics. It also comes up in astronomy. She was named one of the 50 most important women in science in 2016 for her work. She is only the second female astronomer in the National Academy of Science as of 2024. She will be minted on a US quarter in 2025 as a part of the American Women Quarters program but despite many arguments, she never won the Nobel Prize for her discovery.

Dr Wing went to MIT where she earned a BS, an MS, and Her PhD in Computer science and Electrical Engineering. She teaches computer science and runs Microsoft Research. She worked with Barbara Liskov in developing the Liskov Substitution principle and is a strong promoter of computational thinking. She has been published in many journals on her work with algorithmic problem solving. Her work primarily focuses on cybersecurity and privacy across programming languages. She currently teaches at Columbia College of Engineering in NYC.

Classroom Connection:

Dr. Wing is an American computer scientist who helps young people with their research. She guides multiple research projects and runs several laboratories on our ability to trust AI systems. When she was in HS, math was her favorite subject. this love for math led her to a career in engineering and subsequently in computer science.

Link to a lecture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVEUOHw3Qb8

https://ml.ucsb.edu/jeannette-m-wing

Link to paper on Trustworthiness of AI systems

Link to Wikipedia Information

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannette_Wing

As a classroom connection, I have students work on projects for Women's History Month. Carol Shaw would draw a lot of interest in today's kids. My students live in the realm of video games and are constantly talking about playing Roblox and Fortnight with one another outside of school.

For more information: https://realwomenofgaming.com/2017/02/17/women-in-gaming-carol-shaw/

Deborah would be an awesome research project for either Black History Month or Women's History month. As a teacher I am always looking for new faces to teach the students, instead of the same 4 of 5 familair faces. Students need to be able to see themselves in a career to consider it for their future!

For more information:

https://seas.harvard.edu/news/2020/06/alumni-profile-deborah-washington-brown-phd-81

Impact: Victoria developed an app to help people find stores that accept food stamps and works to make CS more accessible to students with disabilities.

Classroom Integration: Her story along with this YouTube video we can engage in discussion questions:

• What are some organizations around you doing to help increase the number of Latinx STEM students? 

• What are some ways that teachers can inspire more interest from young girls in technology fields? 

Read this article and research recent data around computer science demographics- specifically, are there more girls showing interest in CS (nationally vs locally)?

*Activity from: CSEDWeek

Link:https://vickiebananas.com/

Impact: Stephanie Castillo, the woman behind Latina Girls Code (LGC), a Chicago-based program providing education and resources to Latinx girls interested in technology. As executive director of Latina Girls Code, Stephanie Castillo works to bridge and eliminate the diversity gap for girls, specifically Latinas, interested in entering the tech world.
Classroom Integration:

• Start the activity by sharing the background information about Stephanie Castillo and the Latina Girls Code program with the students.

• Discuss the significance of the program in addressing the diversity gap in STEM fields.

  • Facilitate a discussion about the challenges faced by underrepresented communities in STEM.

  • Explore the unique circumstances mentioned by Stephanie Castillo and how LGC aims to address them.

  • Encourage students to share their thoughts on the importance of diversity and inclusion in technology.

  • Divide students into small groups and provide them with printed articles or online resources about Stephanie Castillo and Latina Girls Code.

  • Instruct each group to create a short presentation summarizing key points, challenges faced by Latinx girls in STEM, and how LGC is making a difference.

  • Each group should also discuss the broader implications of diversity in technology.

Link: https://publications.csba.org/california-school-news/june-2018/leadership-institute-preview-latina-girls-code-executive-director-stephanie-castillo/

Impact: Facilitated the first GWC group at her school in SC. Continues to coach a robotics team offered to girls in grades 3-8. Was an assistant coach to an all-girls team who made it to the robotics state championships in 2023.

Classroom Integration: Although she teaches general science, Ced'Rica has made it her mission to integrate computer science into her day-to-day science lessons. Often teaching students how to code and program physical and virtual devices, expanding students' critical thinking skills, and highlighting the amazing women who have lead the way in CS. Her focus is to introduce all of her students to the world of Coding and Programming.

Ruchi is one of the most relatable women in the tech world today! Almost anyone can identify Facebook and the space she created on it! What a wonderful person to teach during Women's History Month, during STEM, or really at anytime!

For more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruchi_Sanghvi

Impact: K-12 focus that led to Co-Founder of Latinas in STEM

Classroom Integration: Student activity for a blueprint to attain a STEM field-related education/degree

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazlyncarvajal/

Impact: Author, Pilot and Co-Founder of Latinas in Computing.

Classroom Integration: Student activity about overcoming fear and aviation. I will be integrating a piece of curriculum from Civil Air Patrol to supplement this activity.

Link:

Impact: Carol Shaw was one of the first female game designers, working for Atari. She was well regarded by her peers as one of the best programmers, able to design complex games such as 3D Tic Tac Toe and River Raid for Atari.

Classroom Connection: Many of my students are interested in being game designers. I would start our game design unit by introducing my students to Carol Shaw and her story to inspire them. After this, I want them to do mini-research projects, likely guided, about other game designers. I am curious to see who else they can learn about.

Link: https://www.create-learn.us/blog/famous-women-in-computer-science/

Impact: Radia Perlman created the Spanning Tree Protocol. This allows networks to communicate and deliver data quickly and reliably and, therefore, is the backbone of the internet. In addition to this, she has published two textbooks and has over 80 patents in her name. Her contributions have genuinely changed the world.

Classroom IntegrationConnection: Radia's Spanning Tree Protocol is an excellent example of designing to solve a problem. Therefore, I would use her story as an introduction to my senior's capstone project, "Computing for Change," where they have to solve a problem through STEM. I think Radia Perllam is a great example of this.

Link: https://www.computerscience.org/resources/most-influential-women-computer-science/

Impact: Dunbar is one of the most experienced female astronauts in the world, with 50 days in space covering 20.4 million miles in five space shuttle flights. Bonnie Dunbar twice went to Russia to train for space shuttle flights that docked with the Russian Space Station Mir.

Classroom Connection:

I have a picture with Dr. Dunbar from when I participated in a college event with the Engineering Club. I anticipate creating a Bell Ringer/Hook for my coding and STEAM club students to create connections they would otherwise not engage with.

Classroom Integration: In my Topics in CS class, the students spend about a month on the topic of Game Design. As part of an intro to that subject, I would introduce famous game developers from the past like Carol Shaw. I think this may challenge some of my students' notions that game design is only for men.

Link: https://www.atariwomen.org/stories/carol-shaw/

Classroom Integration: My Topics in CS class spends a month learning about Artificial Intelligence. I would like to include mention of Dr. Li during our discussions of how data is used to train AI models. Her ImageNet database was revolutionary in the 2010s.

Link: https://profiles.stanford.edu/fei-fei-li

Impact: Annie Easley was one a computer science and mathematician in the 50s as was known as a human computer. She worked for NASA for over 34 years.

Classroom Integration: In my pacing guide, we have a lesson on Careers in Computer Science. Every semester I pick 20 woman to talk about their contribution to the field. Mrs. Easley will be added to that list. I also have students choose various people in the field to create a project similar to this once. Not only do the student research the individual 's contribution, they research the person childhood, high school and college history. I believe my student need to know that being great can happen regardless of your background, race or social economically status.

Resource Link to find out more about Annie Easley: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/annie-j-easley-1933-2011/

Impact: Founded a nonprofit organization called Black Girls Code to introduce girls of color to technology and computer programming.

Classroom Integration: It important for females to know that coding is not just for males. In my CS class, before we get started with coding I highlight females contribution to the field to show my students that coding is not just for males.

To learn more about Kimberly Bryant use this link: https://premierespeakers.com/kimberly-bryant/bio

I could use Carol Shaw as an inspiration to my female students so they can see that women have been involved in the video game industry from the beginning. We could discuss the challenges she might have faced in the industry. The students could also make a presentation about women in video games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Shaw

In the classroom, we could talk about how computers were used to simulate space flight and how her contributions made it possible to have successful missions. We could also discuss the challenges faced by women of color in STEM and the historical context. I would probably use clips from Hidden Figures to help explain to the kids how everything worked.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/katherine-johnson-biography/

By inventing STP and contributing to other networking protocols, Radia Perlman has played a pivotal role in the development of the internet as we know it today. Her work has made the internet more reliable, efficient, and secure, and has paved the way for countless innovations in technology and communication.

Margaret Hamilton was the first female programmer in NASA’s Apollo project at MIT. She led a team that wrote and tested the code used for all of the in-flight software. Over time, she was promoted to the Director of the Software Engineering Division at MIT. She has earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom as a result of her efforts on the Apollo mission.

I will be teaching a Medical Detectives course next year and information about Rosalind Franklin could be integrated into the course.

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01313-5

Many of my students are interested in video game design and I could start off a game design unit introducing Carol Shaw and then let students search to find other women of impact in the field.

Link:

https://blog.avast.com/women-in-tech-carol-shaw

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latanya_Sweeney

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndsey_Scott

Megan Smith has served as a Senior VP for Google working on diversity and inclusion. In addition, she served as CEO for PlanetOut. Currently, she is the CEO of shift7, a company focused on social, environmental and economic problems. She also is known for launching the Computer Science for All initiative.

Classroom Integrations: In CS class, students can use simple analysis and algorithm as Lovelace used to begin with the study of computer science and inspired the world despite male dominant society in London during that period.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace

Perlman is known for her invention of the spanning tree algorithm and the Spanning Tree Protocol. This protocol became essential to helping network bridges locate loops in a LAN. She has made major contributions to other protocol projects such as the CLNP and has received numerous awards including the USENIX Lifetime Achievement award.

Classroom Integration: Motivation to many CS majors as she has numerous patents and works on networking systems to make it so powerful to the current and future generations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_Perlman

Impact: Her work on math calculations, computers and analysis in NASA and many projects associated to the aeronautical and space science are commendable. Its amazing how she could do that with no calculators or other devices. Its an inspiring episode to learn about her.

Impact: Allen's research in compiler optimization and parallel computing laid the foundation for modern compiler technology and greatly advanced the performance of computer systems. Her work has had a lasting impact on the design and implementation of programming languages and compilers.

Classroom Integration Connection: Frances Allen's story can be integrated into a computer science lesson focusing on compiler design and optimization techniques. She was passionate about teaching programming language FORTRAN. Afterwards, she spent most of her career at IBM. Students can learn about her contributions to improving the efficiency and performance of computer programs through compiler optimizations. Additionally, discussing her achievements as a pioneering woman in computer science can inspire female students to pursue careers in the field.

Link: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frances-E-Allen

Impact: She led a team of African American women mathematicians which was named as "West computers", and performed complex calculations for space missions. Her leadership and technical skills contributed to the success of NASA's space missions during a time of racial segregation and discrimination.

Classroom Integration Connection: Her story can be integrated into a science class focusing on history of computing in STEM. Students can learn about her role as a pioneering African American woman in the early days of computing at NASA and the challenges she faced due to racial and gender discrimination. Discussing her contributions to the space program can inspire students to overcome obstacles and pursue careers in STEM fields.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Vaughan

Impact: The founder and CEO of Black Girls Code, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching girls of color ages 7 to 17 about computer programming and technology. Bryant started Black Girls Code in 2011 to address the lack of diversity in the tech industry and provide opportunities for girls from underrepresented communities to learn coding skills and opportunities in STEM fields.

1. Impact: Speech recognition researcher who worked for AT& T Bell Labs was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in CS from Harvard in 1981. Ms. Brown was also recognized for her achievements in Automatic Response on the phone. Her methods are widely used today when we call any company and have to use voice prompts to move through the menus.

2. Classroom Integration Connection: I can use Ms. Browns speech recognition in the classroom to have the students evaluate the ethical concerns in using AI biases against people that may have speech impediments, accents or dialects which are hard to understand. A project will help students to understand that based on how a person sounds, the computer or technology being used may give answers specific to that region, even if the information is not correct. This will show why it's important to build inclusive environments for everyone.

3. Link: https://www.uml.edu/profiles/deborah-washington-brown.aspx

   
   

Impact: CS who works in Ai, algorithmic bias and data mining. Gebru advocates for diversity in technology and created Black in AI as a safe space for Black researchers working in AI. Gebru's work has lead to crucial discussions and policy changes around ethical AI development.

Classroom Integration: Talks about transparency in AI and removing biases on all levels. Both of these topics make for good discussions and brings awareness to why we need more people of color and women in CS.

Link : https://www.historyofdatascience.com/timnit-gebru-the-computer-scientist-fighting-for-a-fairer-world/

Classroom Integration: I can use Ms. Johnson's experiences in teaching students how forced air will change the route of any spaceship. How to use calculations in determining how STEM relate.

3. Link : https://www.science-sparks.com/katherine-johnson-fact-file/

Focus/Impact: Was the first person to earn a Ph.D. in computer science in the United States. She advocated for women to be involved in Computer Science. She wrote 4 books in the field of Computer Science.

I can integrate this when studying careers. It would also be good to connect the closeness and value we have in family, but how they motivate us to do all that we can.

Read more: https://lulac.org/convention23/speakers/gomez/

For the classroom integration, I can highlight her during our Women's History month, Hispanic Heritage month, and during our Hour of Code. Her contributions in various fields can help students see they are not bound to one particular field.

Read more here: https://www.latinagirlscode.org

Video games are a very popular topic amongst all of my students. They not only love to play games, but create their own (plugged or unplugged). By introducing Carol Shaw to my students, they will understand that they are able to become video game designers as well. This would be an excellent person to introduce when we are coding games on Scratch.

Link: https://www.atariwomen.org/stories/carol-shaw/

https://smartermsp.com/pioneers-in-tech-carol-shaw-atari-video-game-designer/

My students are love talking about hacking each other and wanting to learn how to break codes. I think introducing Joan Clark would not just be interesting for my students, but also encouraging to show that a woman was able to hack codes in World War 2.

https://www.ams.org/publications/journals/notices/201703/rnoti-p252.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1Xm0TZB85x-WdeBKS6Ls13yL9mzBWSeCEkQyrvSRi3xfeY9zy3yJ6Nz5I

No coding languages existed at the time, so they had to write and calculate everything necessary from scratch. They used complex trajectory calculations and logical diagrams to help launch accurate missiles within seconds. These women got little to know recognition for their contributions to computing due to their gender. Now, they are celebrated as heroes from World War II.

Impact: She has published over 300 peer-reviewed research on AI, machine learning, computer vision, cognitive neuroscience, and computational neuroscience. She also warned against the dangers of the use of AI in military. She was quoted "I believe in human-centered AI to benefit people in positive and benevolent ways. It is deeply against my principles to work on any project that I think is to weaponize AI."

Classroom Connection: The question of ethics in regards to computer science is deeply interesting and consequential to our society. While the idea of military abuse of computer science is more popular, there are other ways that computer science can be used unethically. This discussion could lead to a more responsible programmers and help students learn about ethics.

Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fei-Fei_Li

Classroom Connection:

Showing that a woman was the first programmer hired at MIT to work on the Apollo moon program can help inspire female students.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton_(software_engineer)

Impact: She was part of the group that help develop domain names (.mil, .gov, .edu, .org, and .com). She also worked as a network requirements manager and develop guidelines for managing the NASA Science Internet.

Classroom Connection: I would have students attempt to make a new classification system for domain names. Having them list the pros and cons of their categories compared to the current system would be a great way to reflect on what makes a classification system strong or weak.

Link: https://www.ithistory.org/honor-roll/ms-elizabeth-jake-jocelyn-feinler

Classroom Integration:

I briefly cover how STP works in CSP and IT and add the tidbit that it was invented by a woman.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radia_Perlman

Classroom Connection: I would like my students to explore her life and experience, and to appreciate her contribution to Apollo project and computer science as the first woman to do so, and to inspire female students in computer science study.

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hamilton_(software_engineer)

Classroom Connection: I can integrate Ms. Clarke's legacy into my computer science class by highlighting her pioneering achievements during lessons on women in STEM. I could start a Role Model Discussion on her contributions to electrical engineering and how her work paved the way for women in technical fields. I could present her invention, the Clarke Calculator, as an example of problem-solving and innovation.

Reference:

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshallfame/html/clarke.html

Classroom Connection: I would set up a project asking my students to research her life and contribution to computer science and Internet.

Reference:

https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/radia-perlman

Shaw’s best known for her work on River Raid for the Atari 2600. The game’s complex design was a tricky hurdle for the Atari 2600 to handle. Shaw’s masterful game design skills allowed her to create a masterpiece for the game. She was able to pave the way for future women in gaming.

Classroom Connection: So many of my students are fascinated and interested in video game design and being able to showcase Carol Shaw means showing the girls of my class that it is NOT just men who can do this. It feels very similar to Mary Shelley being the mother of science fiction.

Link: https://www.create-learn.us/blog/famous-women-in-computer-science/

Feinler and her colleagues developed the internal URL system that we use today which includes domain texts such as .com, .edu, .org, etc. She went on to work for NASA by managing the NASA Science Internet NIC. She’s received the Jonathan B. Postel Service Award in 2013 for her contribution to the early stages of the internet’s development.

Classroom Connection: I have several students who 1. Love Purdue and 2. Adore NASA. Being able to show case women who are active with both will help expand upon the idea of what a "computer scientist" or "information technology" person looks like. Additionally, showcasing how the things that Elizabeth Feinler worked on is still being used today can help showcase their possible impact.

Link:  https://www.internethalloffame.org/official-biography-elizabeth-feinler Opens in a new tab 

Spärck Jones is best known for her works in combining linguistics and statistics while also advocating for women in her field. She developed the inverse documentary frequency which is a critical factor in creating modern-day search engines. The University of Huddersfield’s School of Computing and Engineering buildings was renamed in her honor.

Classroom Connection: Women in MIT and advocating for Computer Science and Computer Scientists

Link: https://www.create-learn.us/blog/famous-women-in-computer-science/

CLASSROOM CONNECTION: As an introductory lesson before beginning our coding unit, I can introduce students to Ms. Lovelace so they can have an understanding of the history behind the algorithms they will be creating. We would use small groups to discuss her achievements and to compare information. We would do this by using Figma so we can share with others. We will also use this information as a touchstone throughout the coding we will be doing throughout the unit.

LINK: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/ada-lovelace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYLlsJdHvKg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVg0oaH4Ocs

Leona invented a a boron trifluoride counter, which detected neutron activity. Her detector was essential to the nuclear tests. She was the only woman present at the December 2, 1942 nuclear test and her counter was used to take measurements of the level of neutron activity.

Classroom Integration:

My students will be responsible for choosing a women or person of color in STEM and creating a baseball style card of their information. Each student must create 3 cards and no two students can pick any of the same people. Our school is roughly 30 minutes from the University of Chicago, so being able to pick a person who is semi-local where they can see the location of their experiment would be impactful.

https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/leona-marshall-libby/

Even as women were showing their aptitude for science, math and problem solving, they were being looked over for positions in the field. It was okay for them to be human computers which were essentially calculators, but working hands on in the field was not open to them.

"Shirley’s first job was as a researcher at Dollis Hill, the Post Office Research Station, the only woman in the team working to develop ERNIE, a computer designed to generate unique Premium Bond numbers. The Post Office was at the forefront of the emerging computer industry." Later in her career, "vast numbers of women were actively pushed out of the profession (sometimes even after having being expected to train up the men who had been hired to replace them)."

So in 1959 she created her own computer software company called Freelance Programmers and hired almost excursively women. Her company became hugely successful and she was given many honors such as OBE in 1980 and President of the British Computer Society in 1989.

Classroom Integration:

My students will be responsible for choosing a women or a person of color in STEM and creating a baseball style card of their information. Each student must create 3 cards and no two students can pick the same people.

https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/stories/stephanie-steve-shirley

CLASSROOM CONNECTION: Having direct interactions with many of her discoveries and inventions, students will be able to have direct knowledge of her accomplishments and be able to put a face with the cutting-edge technology she has created. Without revealing who the inventor is, student can break up into groups and delve deeper into her creations. We can then discover all of these are attibuted to one woman.

LINK: https://kids.kiddle.co/Mary_Lou_Jepsen

https://www.maryloujepsen.com/projects

Annie Easley was born to Bud and Willie McCrory in Birmingham, Alabama in 1933. Here are some facts about Annie Easley you might not know:

1. Easley worked at NASA before it was NASA. When she started her career there in 1955, it was called National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA.

2. She started out studying pharmacy at Xavier University in New Orleans, but left college to get married and move to Cleveland. She read an article in a Cleveland newspaper about twin sisters who worked as “human computers” at NACA that she found interesting.

3. She began working at NASA as a ‘human computer’, then moved into mathematics and computer technician. Her 34-year career included developing and implementing computer code that analyzed alternative power technologies, supported the Centaur high-energy upper rocket stage, determined solar, wind and energy projects, and identified energy conversion systems and alternative systems to solve energy problems. 

Contributions to CS

Ms. Easley would contribute to numerous programs as a computer scientist, inspire many through her enthusiastic participation in outreach programs, break down barriers for women and people of color in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, and win the admiration and respect of her coworkers.

Classroom Integration: Level 1 Robotics - Step into her shoes. Explore the barriers and reasons why more girls are not interested in our robotics class, have our girls speak up on this. Have students create a poster advertising the robotics class to girls at the local middle school. (Careers- Advertising/Education/Event Management, TEK: Understands bias and the importance of diversity.)

Links Used: https://alum.mit.edu/slice/gaining-confidence-inspire

https://raisingsmartgirls.com/latina-women-in-stem/

Classroom Integration: Level 2 Robotics - step into Ms. Castillo's shoes and design a workshop for elementary and middle school girls here in Terrell TX using only the supplies here in the lab/classroom. (Careers- Advertising/Event Management/Entrepreneurship/Education/Technology, TEK: Understands bias and the importance of diversity.)

Links Used:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latina-girls-code-trains-empowers-young-women-tech-careers-n651821

https://raisingsmartgirls.com/latina-women-in-stem/

Impacts: She has raised $1M in Venture Capital. Is the founder & CEO of two award-winning companies. Global Thought Leader in innovation, STEM education, and tech startup mentorship. (40% of successful women in STEM have a mentor.) She is a keynote speaker and philanthropist on self-empowerment, and leadership.

·      She was an English mathematician and writer who lived in the 19th century. In 1843, she translated an article on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer. She added notes that is now recognized as the first computer program

·      She is often referred to as the, first programmer, because of her innovative work

IMPACT: Mrs. Fuchs has independently studied CS and DT so she can make a positive impact on her students. Beginning with kindergarteners, Mrs. Fuchs has always encouraged everyone to make mistakes and take risks, knowing that is the best route for learning. Through STEM-based lessons, she has been able to allow students to take the lead in their learning, supporting and guiding them along the way. Many students throughout her career have told her what an impact she has had on their lives over the years.

Katherine was a human computer, and she was such a brilliant mathematician that they used her to test the accuracy of the new, digital computers that were being introduced.

Classroom Connection:

When we learn about the history of computers, I always point out the number of women pictured. When we discuss INPUT, I show them a punch card and we watch the preview of Hidden Figures. I also have a copy of the book in the front of my room.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Johnson

Classroom Connection: We learn about Grace Hopper when we talk about coding languages, binary code, and debugging.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper

CS FOCUS:

Ms. Grantham is a middle school computer science teacher. Her focus includes: robots, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, physical computing and coding.

IMPACTS:

Ms. Grantham introduces hundreds of students to new technology every year in her classroom and after school program, and tries to spark a sense of curiosity and exploration.

Classroom Connection: I teach Unity Game Programming and this would be a great activator lesson as we always discuss the history of gaming, game consoles, etc.  Sharing Carol’s contributions to Atari and the revolution of home gaming and consoles would be a fantastic way to integrate her name into my discussions.

Link: https://www.atariwomen.org/stories/carol-shaw/

Classroom Connection: Internet safety and security are paramount instructional lessons in my Introduction to Computer Science, Python Programming, Unity Game Programming, and AP Computer Science Principles courses.  All of these courses include discussion and curriculum elements sharing the importance of security and cyber security.  As she is one of the leaders in encryptions for personal data protection, this would be an excellent connection that I could institute in all of my computer science courses.

Link: https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/goldwasser_8627889.cfm

Source: https://www.create-learn.us/blog/famous-women-in-computer-science/

Carol Shaw will be a great addition to my 7th grade curriculum as we start with game design using Bloxels. I think I could bring in previous video games and talk about the limitations of previous gaming consoles and how they have changed over the year.

Source: https://www.create-learn.us/blog/famous-women-in-computer-science/

I think Anita Borg would be an interesting person to bring up in Girls Who Code. There is a balance between competing with each other versus lifting each other up. Women often struggle with this concept because it is such a battle to be recognized. This would be a great topic to discuss with girls at an early age.

She has won numerous awards, including the Turing Award, a Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science and two Godel Prizes in theoretical computer science. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In addition, she isa fellow of both the Association for Computing Machinery and the International Association for Cryptologic Research.

Work Place: Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming Division

Impacts on Society: Instrumental design on significant games including: Portal, Left 4 Dead, Half-Life 2, and Star Wars  BattleFront II.

All About Kim Swift

Kim Swift is an American video game designer. She is probably most renowned for her contributions to the software developer Valve and her work on such games as Portal and Left 4 Dead. 

She was also featured by Fortune as one of "30 Under 30" influential figures in the video game industry.  She is often touted as one of the most recognized women in the game development industry.

Contributions to CS

Not only was she instrumental in the development of some of the most popular titles in gaming history from the first two decades of the 2000’s, she continues to create new avenues in game development.

Most recently, she was hired by Microsoft to lead the cloud gaming of the newest Xbox console series to reduce assets needed locally for complex multiplayer gaming.

Brief Description on how you will use this artifact in a lesson you already teach in your classroom

During my Unity Game programming class I will high light a developer/designer each week.  I will infuse more role models and relevant programmers to games and apps that students use currently.  

I would use this information in my class during women's history month.

https://www.fishersci.com/us/en/education-products/publications/headline-discoveries/2012/issue-03/anita-borg-blazed-trail.html

https://ece.umd.edu/clark/faculty/391/Carol-Espy-Wilson

Workplace: Bonfire Studios

Impacts on Computing: Rachelle was on the team developing Hearthstone at Blizzard. She has been a public advocate for women in CS.

LINK: Eileen Vélez-Vega biography https://alltogether.swe.org/2019/09/day-in-the-life-of-civil-engineer-eileen-vega/

Cristina Lopes, also known as "Crista," specializes in software engineering, programming languages, and virtual worlds.

Key Contributions:

One of the key contributors to the development of Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP), which improves modularity in coding.

Creator of OpenSimulator, an open-source platform for creating virtual 3D environments, widely used in education and simulation.

Published numerous influential papers in computer science and holds patents in programming languages and systems.

Impact on Computing:

Cristina Lopes' work has revolutionized how programmers think about modularity and reusability in software. OpenSimulator has empowered educators and developers to create immersive virtual spaces, fostering innovation in how technology is used in various industries.

sources https://ics.uci.edu/people/cristina-lopes/ https://ics.uci.edu/~lopes/

Impact: Margaret Hamilton is most commonly known for her role in the success of the Apollo missions. She loved math as a student and graduated from Earlham college in 1958 with a degree in mathematics. She took a job at MIT to help support her family as her husband was completing a law degree. While working at MIT, she taught herself programming. She took her programming skills to NASA and helped create a program that made landing on the moon possible. She is credited with coming up with the job title of "software engineer." Her work with the space program earned her the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Classroom Integrations:

1.Share Margaret Hamilton’s story through a picture book or kid-friendly biography like "Margaret and the Moon" by Dean Robbins.

Role-Playing: Divide students into teams and assign them roles and space exploration scenarios with problems for them to come up with creative solutions.

2. Hands-On Coding Activities

Introduction to Coding Logic: Use block-based coding platforms like Scratch or Tynker to introduce basic coding. CS First also offers easy video based lessons to walk students through coding projects.

Debugging Challenge: Set up simple coding errors for students to identify and fix. This will help show the importance of checking work especially work that could result in life or death outcomes like space travel.

Links Used: https://www.computerscience.org/resources/most-influential-women-computer-science/

https://science.nasa.gov/people/margaret-hamilton/

Impact: Megan Smith is a leader in the technology field as an engineer, entrepreneur, and tech evangelist. She is a graduate of MIT, and has impacted the field of technology through her work at Google and as the first female CTO of the United States under President Obama. While serving the US, she initiated the Computer Science for All initiative and worked on pressing issues such as economic growth, AI, and social justice. She is an advocate for underserved populations. She served as CEO of Planet Out, a entertainment company focused on LGBTQ+ issues, and she co-founded the Malala Fund, an organization dedicated to impacting girls education and empowerment around the world. She also gives back to her alma mater by serving on the board at MIT.

Classroom Integrations:

1. Megan Smith works to make technology have a positive impact on society. Have students research ways technology is improving lives. Have them share infographics or posters showcasing positive tech. Give students a current problem in their community or at school and have them brainstorm ways technology could be used to improve it.

2. Makerspace challenge: As a connection to Megan Smith's roots as an engineer working at MIT's Media Lab, give students access to many materials and share a problem you would like them to build a prototype to solve. Have a prototype fair where students can see and hear from each other and learn from their creativity.

Resource: https://www.atariwomen.org/stories/brenda-laurel/

IMPACT: Dr. Washington is the first Black woman to earn a PhD in Computer Science from North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on embedding cultural competence in computing education and improving the representation of underrepresented groups in tech fields. Her advocacy has influenced policies and curricula, encouraging systemic change in academia and industry.

Classroom Integration Connection:
Activity 1: Host a class discussion on bias in artificial intelligence, using examples of Dr. Washington’s work to highlight the importance of diverse perspectives in tech.
Teachers can incorporate Dr. Washington's story into lessons on ethics in AI or the importance of diversity in technology

Activity 2: Create a project-based lesson where students propose solutions to increase representation in STEM fields, drawing inspiration from Dr. Washington’s initiatives.
Activities could include discussions about bias in algorithms or group projects that explore ways to increase representation in STEM fields.

Activity 3: Assign students to research cultural competence and present examples of how it improves collaboration and innovation in computer science.

LINK:
Dr. Alicia Nicki Washington - Wikipedia

IMPACT: Ada Lovelace collaborated with Charles Babbage on the Analytical Engine and wrote the first algorithm designed for a machine. She envisioned computers performing tasks beyond numerical calculations, laying the foundation for modern computing.

Classroom Integration Connection:
Activity 1: Introduce students to algorithms by having them write step-by-step instructions (an algorithm) for a simple task, such as making a sandwich or solving a math problem.
Activity 2: Compare Babbage’s Analytical Engine to today’s computers, exploring how Lovelace’s ideas have shaped technology.
Activity 3: Engage students in a discussion about envisioning future technologies, drawing parallels to Lovelace’s vision of computers performing creative tasks like composing music.

LINK:
Ada Lovelace - Biography

IMPACT: Johnson's trajectory analysis on orbital mechanics ensured the crucial success of space missions, such as John Glenn’s orbit of Earth and the Apollo 11 moon landing.
She shattered racial and gender barriers, becoming an inspiring role model for inclusivity in STEM. Her work opened doors for women and African-Americans in STEM, proving that diversity is essential to scientific progress.

Classroom Integration Connection:
Activity 1: Use basic physics and coding tools like Scratch or Python, by recreating simple trajectory to simulate the trajectory of a spacecraft. Students can apply concepts like velocity and gravity to understand orbital mechanics.
Activity 2: Highlight Johnson’s determination by hosting a class debate or discussion on overcoming barriers in STEM, encouraging students to reflect on diversity and inclusion.
They can also analyze Johnson’s life to understand the impact of determination and inclusivity in achieving groundbreaking advancements in STEM.
Activity 3: Watch excerpts from Hidden Figures, followed by group projects analyzing how STEM pioneers like Johnson shaped history and space exploration.

LINK:
Katherine Johnson - NASA

Brooklyn, NY (& CSTA Nigeria)

Contributing to reducing the Digital Divide #CSforALL (commitment member)

Gabriel is a K9-12 CS Educator and a CS Advocate based in New York, with focus on the Underrepresented and the underserved communities.

Gabriel (mrGab) is an Innovative technologist, educator and an AI expert passionate about equity in CS education, data-driven solutions and empowering future leaders.

Impact: Clarke played a crucial role in decrypting the German Enigma code, significantly contributing to the Allied war effort by reducing shipping losses caused by German U-boats. She was one of the leading practitioners of Banburismus, a cryptanalytic technique developed by Alan Turing. Despite facing gender-based barriers, she became the deputy head of Hut 8 and was recognized for her expertise. After the war, she continued her work in cryptanalysis.

Classroom Integration Connection: Clarke’s work can be integrated into a classroom through lessons on cryptography and mathematical problem-solving, highlighting her contributions to codebreaking during WWII. Students could engage in cipher-breaking activities using historical encryption methods like the Enigma cipher.

Links: https://scientificwomen.net/women/clarke-joan-158

Margaret Hamilton played a crucial role in the development of software engineering as a discipline. As the director of the Software Engineering Division at MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, she led the development of onboard flight software for NASA's Apollo missions, ensuring the success of the moon landing. Her contributions not only helped land astronauts safely on the moon but also set new standards for software reliability, influencing modern software engineering principles.

Classroom Integration Connection:

Margaret Hamilton’s story can be integrated into a computer science lesson on software development and debugging. Students can explore how Hamilton and her team used rigorous coding practices to ensure mission success and compare those techniques to modern software testing methods.

Another activity could be a problem-solving challenge, where students write pseudocode for a critical system (e.g., a self-driving car or a Mars rover) to simulate the importance of precision and debugging in software engineering. This lesson can help promote gender equity by highlighting a pioneering woman’s achievements in a historically male-dominated field and inspire students to pursue STEM careers.

LINK:

NASA - Margaret Hamilton

Classroom Integration Connection: Integrating Shafi Goldwasser's achievements into computer science lessons can provide students with a profound understanding of cryptography's evolution and its real-world applications.

One approach is to introduce a module on encryption techniques, highlighting the Blum–Goldwasser cryptosystem. Students can engage in hands-on activities where they implement basic encryption and decryption algorithms, fostering a practical grasp of data security principles. Discussing Goldwasser's role as a trailblazing woman in STEM can also inspire discussions on gender equity, encouraging students to reflect on diversity in technology fields.

LINK: For more information about Shafi Goldwasser's contributions, visit the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing.

This paragraph from the article linked below sums up her immense impact: "Although the remaining secrecy associated with cryptanalysis still makes it impossible to be more specific about her accomplishments, it is clear that her work on the Naval Enigma helped to shorten the war and saved many lives on both sides of the conflict."

I think cryptology is great hook for students of all ages to inspire curiosity and start discussions about computer science. Puzzles, riddles, cryptograms are all things I could easily incorporate into lessons or choice activities for elementary aged students. We could implement a daily riddle challenge to build some background knowledge. It would have low affect and students would be encouraged to share thoughts and ideas with each other. We would learn about these and other pioneers in the process.

Link to padlet URL https://padlet.com/vkajones2/module-3-women-in-stem-jrcrkjjdfb71tmlp/wish/XGyBQbkwK5l9ZL6K

Link to article for more information about Joan Clarke's life and achievements, https://padlet.com/vkajones2/module-3-women-in-stem-jrcrkjjdfb71tmlp/wish/XGyBQbkwK5l9ZL6K

https://www.ams.org/journals/notices/201703/rnoti-p252.pdf

In 1926, she was the first woman to present a paper at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Her research was of critical national importance because at the time of her presentation, transmission lines were getting longer, and with longer lines came greater loads and more chances for problems and system failures. Mathematical models available at the time applied only to small systems and these did not help the problems of the current day with the longer transmission lines. Edith applied a mathematical technique called the "method of symmetrical components" to model a power system and how it behaved. This discovery is what allowed her and other engineers to determine characteristics essential to analyzing large transmission systems, which was important to our growing country.

In 1947, she began teaching at the University of Texas in Austin. Ms. Clarke wrote and published many useful papers pertaining to power distribution and synchronous machines and a comprehensive Electrical Engineering textbook for engineering schools and colleges.

Clarke received two patents related to electrical power transmission. She was gifted with the ability to simplify and reduce the time spent in laborious calculations in solving problems related to the design and operation of electrical power systems.

I would highlight Edith Clarke as an example of a woman who worked in a male dominated environment and her self-confidence is something to admire. It is up to us (as women) to grab that knowledge. Here are some words from Edith herself:

“There is a future for woman in engineering, and someday the only limitation will be their own lack of ability, as we are fast approaching an age in which men and women will be measured by their worth as individuals.”

-Edith Clarke, Texas Engineer

For more information about Edith Clarke's amazing life and contributions: https://magazine.engr.utexas.edu/2023/edith-clarke

Link to Padlet URL: https://padlet.com/vkajones2/module-3-women-in-stem-jrcrkjjdfb71tmlp/wish/LNV1Q7j5v9mDamq3

The gerrymandering of votings districts is directly connected to issues in social justice.

Moon Duchin's presence as a queer woman of color in STEM is an inspiration to others.

Her biography and documentary, Gender Shades, is one I show in my Computer Science classes each year. It's an important (and also entertaining) look at all the ways our data sets reflect our history and to move forward we must acknowledge the biases that still affect us today.

What is less known about her is that she was also the senior technical officer for IBM in New York City until 1975, and has worked in systems architecture since 1958 until her death in 2017. She was the founding president of PC Classics, and helped numerous LGBT organizations digitize as part of her activist work. Her impact is that she brought computing and marriage to those who hadn’t previously had access.

She is currently studying for the Computer Science exam to add as an endorsement to her Professional Teaching Certification. She recognizes the need for more CS teachers to adequately prepare students for the 21st Century. She hopes to bring and/or expand CS classes and offerings to K-12 students on the Olympic Peninsula.

Sophie is a sterling example of a person who rose about barriers and worked to quench her unending thirst for knowledge in a subject that was not only inaccessible, but which was taboo for a young woman to even consider learning in her day.

Photo and biograph courtesy: Mactutor Biography of Mathematicians: https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Germain/

Emmy is an example of a mind so bright, so ablaze, that all the obstacles in her path could not hold her back from shining. She is an inspiration to women, and to all people of the courage and passion to learn, contribute, and be judged equally regardless to stereotypes and biases in systems.

Photo and biography courtesy: https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Noether_Emmy/

https://amturing.acm.org/award_winners/allen_1012327.cfm

https://odetta.ai/blogs/edith-clarke-the-human-computer-who-revolutionized-engineering

My favorite unit in my 8th grade careers class is when we talk about STEM fields. I love finding ways to incorporate people who have made big impacts in ways we probably don't think of right away. I think we think of scientists in medical and environmental but I cannot wait to incorporate more food scientists. I would love to incorporate a women in STEM unit to showcase all the ways women have made ground breaking discoveries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Holsinger

https://www.invent.org/inductees/virginia-holsinger

https://www.dairyfoods.com/articles/97894-virginia-holsinger-named-to-national-inventors-hall-of-fame

Classroom Integration Connection: Alonso’s career highlights the importance of computer science in creating the visual effects seen in Marvel films. I would create a lesson that would explore how coding, algorithms, and software like Python, C++, and graphics engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) are used in VFX, animation, and rendering.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Alonso

Jean E. Sammet was a pioneering American computer scientist who co-designed COBOL and created FORMAC—the first widely used programming language for symbolic algebraic manipulation—during her tenure at Sylvania and IBM in the 1950s and 1960s (en.wikipedia.org). She also authored the influential 1969 textbook Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals and became the first female president of the Association for Computing Machinery, cementing her legacy as a leader in both technical innovation and professional community-building (en.wikipedia.org).

Classroom Integration Connection: I would start with a short lesson on Sammet’s role in designing COBOL and creating FORMAC, highlighting how early programming languages shaped modern computing. I would then follow with an activity where students explore basic syntax of COBOL (or a simplified pseudocode version) or compare old languages to modern ones (like Python), reinforcing that women have been foundational to CS from the start.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_E._Sammet

https://www.stephanieaceves.com/

Dr. Ride was the first American Woman to travel to space. When Title IX paved the way for Dr. Ride to apply and earn the legal right to compete in equal footing with her male counterparts. She continued to encourage young women in STEM by being a professor.

Classroom connection can be made to show how women have been fighting for the right for women in STEM education. To never give up and their are many extraordinary women that young women can look up to in the STEM field.

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=WmtNAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA11&dq=Dr.+Sally+Ride&ots=P3wKQGKOPW&sig=_TMDB5W8zXkb2FOnpFQ0oXMpvzc#v=onepage&q=Dr.%20Sally%20Ride&f=false

https://www.math.tau.ac.il/~milo/

Classroom Integration: Students can create pixel art to show the coding of bases in DNA. Students can research how she discovered the double helix shape.

Link for more information about Rosalind Franklin.

Classroom Integration: I could use her story to introduce our genetics unit so that students can see how there are environmental factors that can impact offspring. Students can do some additional research on how other scientists test medicines and the process of new drug approvals.

Link for Further Research into Frances Oldham Kelsey

Classroom Integration: As students learn about machine learning, they can study what Dr. Li is doing. We know that data centers are using a lot of natural resources, so it would be good for students to see someone like them looking for ways to make AI more sustainable.

Link to More Information about Helen Li

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/ada-lovelace-the-first-tech-visionary

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshallfame/html/clarke.html#:~:text=Ms.%20Clarke%20left%20New%20York,in%20that%20field%20from%20MIT.

Sources:

• Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ada-Lovelace

• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace

• New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/ada-lovelace-the-first-tech-visionary