Women in Computing

Designed for KS3 and KS4 learners, this ready-to-use lesson introduces a diverse group of computer women past and present and helps challenge any misconceptions about those who choose this career path. Pupils are encouraged to think through for themselves the contribution that women can bring to computing and the reasons why in the UK less than 25% of the people working in computing today are women.

It also provides a brief introduction to computing careers, studying computer science at university and digital apprenticeships with links to further information.

The lesson includes a fully illustrated PowerPoint consisting of over 30 slides. It starts with differentiated objectives and a quiz, and has a worksheet to complete as the lesson progresses. Notes and answers to the worksheet and activities are included. (Answers to the quiz are included in the PowerPoint.)

There are two activities, the first delving a little further into the life stories of some of the women featured in the lesson and a poster activity.

This lesson supports the national curriculum for computing which aims to ensure that all pupils become digitally literate and active participants in the digital world.

Duration: Approximately one hour plus two activities.

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