In 2003, IK teamed with their local Girl Scouts Council to win a NSF grant for a project designed to steer young girls into information technology careers. This three-year project was delivered in 2005 with the “Girls are I.T.” web site and four unique, hands-on activities in a mobile technology classroom.
The heart of this project is a school bus that has been outfitted as a mobile computer lab with 12 stations featuring wireless computers, PDA’s, and miscellaneous cool technologies. The bus featured four 2-hour activities that each explore a different aspect of technology. The activities included animation, video and hands-on applications to give the girls experience with technology. The content focused on how technology can help people live better lives. After completing an activity, the girls were asked to imagine how this technology could help people live better in the future. They posted their thoughts to the “Girls are I.T.” website.
Interactive Knowledge concepted the mobile classroom activities based on technologies that are both interesting to young girls and relevant to their future careers. IK then called on a team of writers, programmers, artists, animators, videographers, and engineers across the country to help develop the activities.
The “Girls are I.T.” project is carried out by dozens of Girl Scouts volunteers who may not have experience with technology. IK wrote a detailed guide for each activity. These guides include the educational goals, hardware and software setup, technology troubleshooting, and career possibilities for the girls.
