In this talk, we explore how interaction design outreach during secondary school and early university years can better inspire prolonged interest in computer science amongst women and men alike. This talk explores trends in computing education, and suggests specific outreach activities to use interaction design to provide the missing link of social context to early computer science studies. Why is it that computer science curricula in the United States have such a hard time attracting and keeping prospective female students? Many university computer science curricula focus on the theoretical rather than the practical applications of the science – and high school curricula are even more likely to fall into this trap. Many of the women I’ve encountered are looking for something more hands-on, with more direct social benefit. Interaction design as a field hits the right balance of technology, social benefit, and creativity — but interaction design still lags in awareness behind other more traditional technical career options.
More Talks by Cheryl

VideoGallery
Collaborative Creativity through Improv
TopicsCommunication, Creativity, Culture
Cheryl draws from her decade as an improv performer to inspire your design organization....

VideoSlides
Blank Page to World Stage
TopicsDesign Strategy, Innovation, Robotics & AI, Storytelling
(35 min version) Take a groundbreaking NUI-enabled product from concept to reality...

VideoGeneral Info
The Future of Voice
TopicsAccessibility, Design Strategy, Innovation, Robotics & AI
Perception doesn’t necessarily match reality when it comes to today’s voice user...

VideoSlides
The Future of Voice
TopicsAccessibility, Communication, Diversity & Inclusion, Robotics & AI
Far from HAL or Her, the current generation of voice interfaces represents an...

VideoSlides
Blank Page to World Stage (Keynote)
TopicsDesign Strategy, Innovation, Robotics & AI, Storytelling
Take a groundbreaking NUI-enabled product from concept to reality while keeping your...
Discover More Talks
More talks
VideoSlides
Open Source Design with OSS Humanitarian Tech Tools
DisciplinesDesign Operations, Interaction Design, Product Design, User Experience, User Research
TopicsCommunity, Creativity, Culture, Design Strategy, Design Thinking, Ethics, Innovation, Methodology, Sustainability, Teamwork
IndustriesNonprofit, Technology
Speaker Eriol Fox
Why don't designers contribute to humanitarian open-source software?...

VideoGeneral Info
Remaking the Making Company: Moving from Product to Experience
DisciplinesProduct Design, User Experience
TopicsLeadership
Speaker Maria Giudice
Maria Giudice, VP of Experience Design at Autodesk, talks about what it takes to...

VideoSlides
Designing your Product Vision
DisciplinesBusiness, Product Design, User Experience
TopicsDesign Strategy, Design Thinking, Product Development
IndustriesEducation, Technology
Speaker Carina Ngai
Introducing new design methodology called scenario planning to design product vision...
Speakers, Get Featured
Get connected with event organizers interested in engaging women and gender non-binary speakers in design and tech.
Sign UpAlready have an account?
Log inKnow a great speaker? Let us know so we can invite them to be part of our directory and amplify their voice.
Nominate them