1. Preparing Girls for IT Jobs
Barbara B. Lockee
School of Education
Virginia Tech
NSF Funded GSE/EXT Project ( )

2. What the Future Holds During the next 10 years…
IT jobs will hold 5 of the top 30 in fastest growing positions
Network systems
Software application engineers
System analysts
Database administrators
Software developers for operating systems
Over 50% of the current IT workforce will retire
Over 1 million jobs will become available nationally

3. When you think of IT jobs…
…what adjectives do you think of?

4. A Spectrum of Possibilities
Healthcare
Information
Systems
Multimedia Designer
Network
Adminstrator
User
Support
Services
Animator
Instructional Technologist
Graphic Artist
Database Programmer

5. Who is an IT Worker? Anyone who…
Designs, installs, maintains, upgrades, or supports IT hardware
Designs, authors, adapts, tests, implements, maintains, or supports software or databases
Installs, configures, supports, maintains “back-office” systems and applications for those who use such systems for business operations

6. Who is an IT Worker? Or… Creates computer-based solutions for clients
Writes software for existing systems
Develops design tools, simulations, or enterprise systems for the delivery of electronic content
Tests, documentation development, or quality control
Directly manages IT workers

7. IT Everywhere IT companies are everywhere
IT jobs come in all shapes and sizes
IT jobs are everywhere
Healthcare
Government
Education
Banking
IT jobs can come to you
IT skills are essential in non-IT jobs

8. Broader Definitions Are More Inclusive
IT workers are found in all sectors, not just IT organizations
IT workers have a wide variety of educational backgrounds. Four-year degrees in information technology or computer science are not mandatory
IT workers have varied job responsibilities, many of which relate to problem solving

9. It’s Important to be FIT!
All IT jobs require a combination of knowledge
Foundational concepts
Contemporary skills
Intellectual capabilities

10. Foundational Concepts
Foundational knowledge and skills related to how technology “works”
What you might learn in courses or books
Applies across different technologies of the same type
Some examples
How computers work
How networks operate
Digital representation of information
Modeling
Programming

11. Contemporary Skills
Ability to use current, specific technology to accomplish a given task
Skills change constantly because products change constantly
Examples
Setting up a PC
Web programming
Using graphics software
Setting up a wireless network
Using the Internet to find information
Using a database to provide or access information

12. Intellectual Skills
Ability to use IT across different, complex situations
Understanding consequences of doing so
Some examples
Design and test solutions to problems
Organize and navigate information
Collaborate
Anticipate problems
Think about IT abstractly

13. How can we categorize IT jobs?
Creators
Those who imagine, design, build, and test technology products and processes
Maintainers
Those who install, upgrade, troubleshoot computer hardware and software
Supporters
Those who work in non-technical roles vital to IT field, such as sales, training, finance, and law.
Management
Those who oversee IT personnel and are responsible for decision-making related to IT resources and strategies

14. Creators Job Title Educational Prep Local Employers Software developer
AAS Information Systems Technology; BS
Comp Sci, IT
Web developer
AAS Info Sys Tech, BS Comp Sci
Software Engineer
AAS, B.S. Software Engineering

15. Maintainers Job Title Educational Prep Local Employers
Database Administrator
Certifications, AAS
Technical Support
AAS Mgmt Info Sys, BS Comp Sci, MIS/BIS
Network Administrator
Certifications, AAS, BS MIS/BIS
Help Desk

16. Supporters Job Title Educational Prep Local Employers Trainers
Assoc Arts & Sci, BA, MA in Education
Systems Integrators
Certifications, AAS
Marketing
AAS, BS Business
Instructional Technologists
MA Education

17. Management Job Title Educational Prep Local Employers
Chief Technology Officer
M.S., Ph.D., BIS/MIS, Comp Sci, Education
Middle Management
BS, M.S. MIS/BIS

18. Home
Many opportunities to obtain educational and vocational requirements in your state
High Schools
Community and Technical Colleges
Colleges & Universities
Flexible learning opportunities through distance education

19. Where do we go from here?
What strategies and resources can we use to increase girls’ knowledge, skills, & attitude regarding IT careers?
Increase awareness of IT careers through
increasing interactions with IT professionals
Increase knowledge of foundational concepts, contemporary skills, and comfort with IT through increasing opportunities to use IT
formally and informally

20. NSF Funded GSE/EXT Project (0832913)
Contact Information
For any additional information regarding:
IT skills & knowledge
IT job categories & examples
Education and training programs
Barbara Lockee
(540)
NSF Funded GSE/EXT Project ( )