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== Project IT Girl Program ==
== Project IT Girl Program ==


Project IT Girl is a [http://www.girlstart.org/ Girlstart] after-school program in Austin, Texas. The program consists of 45 high school girls (16 - 17 years old) who are learning how to use technology to make a difference in the world. The focus of the program in the 2007 - 2008 school year is educational games for One Laptop Per Child. During the Fall 2007 semester, IT Girls learned basic programming concepts, Python, and Pygame. Over 90% of the girls have no programming experience before this semester. Throughout the semester, the girls worked on a game based on litter prevention to practice using Python and Pygame ([http://www.girlstart.org/itgirl/downloads/LitterGame.zip download the sample code]). Each girl also designed a unique educational game ([http://itgirl.wikispot.org/ see the current game designs]).
[http://www.girlstart.org/itgirl/ Project IT Girl] is a [http://www.girlstart.org/ Girlstart] after-school program in Austin, Texas, funded by the National Science Foundation. The program consists of 44 high school girls (16 - 17 years old) who are learning how to use technology to make a difference in the world over a three-year period.


== "Python with a Purpose" ==
During the Spring 2008 semester, IT Girls are implementing their game designs using Python, Pygame, and the [[Game_templates]]. At the end of the semester, the games will be made available to the OLPC community.
In the 2007 - 2008 school year, students were given a real-world project with a philanthropic application: develop an educational game that can be distributed to children around the world via the One Laptop per Child program. Over 90% of the girls had no programming experience before this year.


The Fall 2007 semester curriculum introduced programming concepts and the basics of Python and Pygame as participants worked on a sample educational game about littering, affectionately known as "Don't Mess with Texas" ([http://www.girlstart.org/itgirl/downloads/LitterGame.zip download the sample code]). When participants learned a new programming concept, they immediately applied it to the sample game individually. Each week, participants applied new concepts that increased the functionality of the game, and by the end of the semester the game included a score board, title screen, and various trash and non-trash "sprites." Girls also individually designed a unique educational game ([http://itgirl.wikispot.org/ see the game design documents]). Each girl picked a learning objective for her game that most interested her, from "practice fractions" to "spread awareness of AIDS testing."
== Watch their progress! ==
* Main project page: http://www.girlstart.org/itgirl/year-two.html
* Wiki for game designs and project management: http://itgirl.wikispot.org/
* SVN repository of games, templates, and code recipes: http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/


During the Spring 2008 semester, IT Girls implemented their game designs using Python, Pygame, and several resources such as [[Game_templates]].
== Art Needs ==
The IT Girls have 30 games in development that are in need of graphic art. They have been frustrated by the lack of attractive, professional art that is released under an open license.


Participants in the IT Girl program meet once a week during the fall and spring semesters for 90 minutes in cohorts of 10 - 15 students. The total time of the program over the 2007 - 2008 school year was 91 hours, including field trips, guest speakers, and teaching programming concepts. Of that, only 30 hours was spent programming and testing the girls' individual games during the spring semester. The average participant spent about 24 hours on her game in the spring.
{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse;" cellpadding=2 cellspacing=2
|-
! width="8%"|Girl
! width="12%"|Artists Involved
! Character Needs
! Object Needs
! Background Needs


== Game Development Resources ==
|-
These resources allowed the girls to develop creative games in a short amount of time with limited programming experience:
| AlexC
* Code templates of basic game types to get started: http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/templates/
|
* Cookbook of code snippets or "recipes" used to add functionality to a game: http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/cookbook/
| Girl in workout clothes, boy in workout clothes, various men and women
* Wiki for game designs and project management: http://itgirl.wikispot.org/
| Gym equipment (bench press, weights, pool), variety of foods and drinks, weight scale, plate, table
| Living room, cafeteria, gym, judges’ room


== Results ==
|-
We are very proud to report that at the end of the program year, 100% of IT Girl participants, individually or in pairs, successfully designed and programmed their own unique game!
| AlexiR
|
|
| Cars in different colors, wheatgrass, carrot, sugar cane, corn, gas station, biofuel station
| Cities and rural areas (all along a highway)


Attitudinal surveys were developed to assess whether the program was successful in promoting and sustaining participants' interest in Computer Science. The following findings emerged:
|-
# High school girls attracted to the IT Girl curriculum positively associate an interest in computer science with intelligence and creativity.
| AlyssaW
# IT Girl was successful in building participant’s confidence that they could succeed academically in Computer Science.
|
# IT Girl had a modest impact on enhancing participants’ interest in enrolling in science, math, engineering, or technology courses in high school.
|
# IT Girl was highly successful in demonstrating the applications of technology in everyday life and sustaining student interest in the IT Girl program.
|
# While external motivations were present for some participants, most girls were motivated to complete their games by intrinsic factors.
| Natural sceneries, including trees, ponds, etc.
# More than half of the participants chose to work independently on their games, rather than in pairs.


A multiple-choice test of general programming concepts and Python syntax was created to assess the effectiveness of the IT Girl curriculum in advancing the technological knowledge of high school participants. The following findings emerged:
|-
# Results showed that high school participants showed gains on all questions of general programming knowledge.
| AveryB and MeganS
# Results showed that high school participants showed gains on all questions of Python programming knowledge.
|
# Participants had mixed feelings about programming after completing Year 2 of the program.
|
| Cadaver (preferably both male and female images), individual organ images: heart, lungs, brain, liver, kidney
|


== Finished Games ==
|-
The following games are eligible for the XO laptop, meaning they use only materials (sounds, images, etc) in the public domain or under the Creative Commons license. Each game includes a credits.txt file with attributions for materials used. Other girls' games used copyrighted material found on the internet. All code is licensed under the GPL.
| CarolineS
|
| Different types of whales in different positions for moving
| Boat
| Ocean


These games have NOT been tested on the XO laptop. There are many known issues in the games, including high CPU usage.
|-
| CeciliaP
|
| Boy in school clothes, boy in graduation robe, security guard
| Spray paint can
| Plain concrete wall (for the back of a school)


{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| [[Image:AIDS Maze screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/FrancesD%20and%20AlyssaH/ AIDS Maze]
| DevanG
| [[Image:Bubble screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/BrandisB/ Bubble]
|
| [[Image:El viaje screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/JinAC/ El viaje de Paco por Amor]
| Boys and girls in various clothing
| [[Image:Fifty Nifty States screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/JordanA/ The Fifty Nifty States]
| Paper, aluminum, plastic bottle, soda bottle, recycling bin, florescent light bulbs, regular light bulbs.
| Landfill, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living room, backyard

|-
|-
| [[Image:Get a Clue screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/SarahS%20and%20KortniL/ Get a Clue!]
| ElizabethA and MariselaR
| [[Image:Homework Rush screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/KatyM/ Homework Rush]
|
| [[Image:How to Save a Life screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/KaylaR/ How to Save a Life]
| Baseball player
| [[Image:Jungle Math screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/VictoriaV%20and%20ZoeG/ Jungle Math]
| Scoreboard
| Baseball field

|-
|-
| [[Image:Let's Bake screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/VanessaW%20and%20TandraH/ Let's Bake!!]
| FrancesD
| [[Image:Math Concentration screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/KaelieG/ Math Concentration]
|
| [[Image:Mayhem at the Museum screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/AudreyL/ Mayhem at the Museum]
| "bad guy"
| [[Image:Musical Paint screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/BrianaF/ Musical Paint]
|
| Hospital building

|-
|-
| [[Image:NACOS screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/LoraF/ NACOS]
| GiselleF
| [[Image:Road Trip screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/AmandaS/ Road Trip]
|
| [[Image:Save the Whales screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/CarolineS/ Save the Whales]
|
| [[Image:Stayin Alive screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/HannahL/ Stayin' Alive]
| Sad puppy, happy puppy, apple, cloud
| Outdoors in a park with one large tree

|-
|-
| [[Image:Swappin Color screenshot.jpg]]<br />[http://itgirl.dreamhosters.com/itgirlgames/games/LeahY/ Swappin' Colors]
| GretchenP
|
|
| Teacher, grocery store cashier, clothing store cashier
| Loaf of Bread, Gallon of Milk, vegetables, Carton of Juice, Apple, Orange, Banana, Meat, Book, Desk, Blackboard, Pencil, Pen, Backpack, Notebook, Shirt, Pants, Shoes, Jacket, Couch, Table, Bed, Chair
| A house, a school, a clothing store, and a grocery store on a road. Inside of the house, inside of the clothing store, inside of the school, inside of the grocery store

|-
| HannahL
|
|
|
|
| Sink, cavities, soap, shampoo, coke bottle, symbol for strong bones (after drinking milk)
|

|-
| JessicaD
|
|
| Frowns, smiles, rainbows, stormy clouds
|

|-
| JinAC
|
|
|
| Classroom

|-
| JordanA
|
|
|
| United States map with state outlines and dots for state capitals

|-
| KatyM
|
| Dog, Boy, Goldfish, Cat, Parrot, Squirrel (all characters should have multiple images to simulate movement: mouth open, mouth closed, etc)
|
|

|-
| KatieL
|
|
| dog, cat, whale, car, school bus
|

|-
| KaylaR
|
| Patient, paramedic
| Ambulance
| Town with a road and a hospital, inside an ambulance

|-
| KelleyS
|
|
| Musical Notation Objects: staff, bass clef, treble clef, whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note, eighth rest, quarter rest, half rest, whole rest (all plain black); Other objects: music box, music box motor, music box lock
| Music box factory, inside of musix box, music motor assembly room, box assembly room, storeroom, employee lounge, loading dock with a truck with back doors open

|-
| KortniL and SaraS
|
| Boy detective, girl detective
|
| Mansion

|-
| LeanaG
|
| bee, monkey, frog, cat, rabbit, penguin, backpack, apple, stick, pole, tree
|
| Jungle with a river

|-
| LindseyC
|
|
| Alarm clock, radio, opening doors, purse, food items, clothes
|

|-
| MegumiT
|
| Pre-teen girl standing with a "happy face", "sad face", "thinking face/pose" , "talking face"; standing business man with a "worried face", "talking face"; standing factory worker man
|
| Inside of factory, office

|-
| PatriciaH
|
|
| General science lab and experiment equipment
| Alien worlds

|-
| SanjoliS
|
|
|
| World map

|-
| SaraDS
|
| Young farm girl and boy, elderly man
| Trees, trash/paper, corn and stalks of corn
|

|-
| SohiniB
|
| Enzymes, bacteria
|
| Different body systems (cardiovascular, digestive, muscular, etc)

|-
| TandraH and VanessaW
|
|
| Chocolate mousse, Brownies, Cupcakes, Blueberry Muffins, Cake, Cookies, Doughnuts, Cheese Cake, Crème Brulee, Pies, Souffle, Ice-cream Cake
|

|-
| ValerieC and BrittanyM
|
| Grocery store cashier, librarian, teacher
| Fruit, vegetables, desks, books
| Town with grocery store, library, and school; insides of grocery store, Library, and School

|-
| ZoeG and VictoriaV
|
| Boy wizard, girl wizard, princess, prince
| Vegetables
| Outside of castle, castle hall, castle kitchen, castle bedroom
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 19:57, 11 June 2008

Project IT Girl Program

Project IT Girl is a Girlstart after-school program in Austin, Texas, funded by the National Science Foundation. The program consists of 44 high school girls (16 - 17 years old) who are learning how to use technology to make a difference in the world over a three-year period.

"Python with a Purpose"

In the 2007 - 2008 school year, students were given a real-world project with a philanthropic application: develop an educational game that can be distributed to children around the world via the One Laptop per Child program. Over 90% of the girls had no programming experience before this year.

The Fall 2007 semester curriculum introduced programming concepts and the basics of Python and Pygame as participants worked on a sample educational game about littering, affectionately known as "Don't Mess with Texas" (download the sample code). When participants learned a new programming concept, they immediately applied it to the sample game individually. Each week, participants applied new concepts that increased the functionality of the game, and by the end of the semester the game included a score board, title screen, and various trash and non-trash "sprites." Girls also individually designed a unique educational game (see the game design documents). Each girl picked a learning objective for her game that most interested her, from "practice fractions" to "spread awareness of AIDS testing."

During the Spring 2008 semester, IT Girls implemented their game designs using Python, Pygame, and several resources such as Game_templates.

Participants in the IT Girl program meet once a week during the fall and spring semesters for 90 minutes in cohorts of 10 - 15 students. The total time of the program over the 2007 - 2008 school year was 91 hours, including field trips, guest speakers, and teaching programming concepts. Of that, only 30 hours was spent programming and testing the girls' individual games during the spring semester. The average participant spent about 24 hours on her game in the spring.

Game Development Resources

These resources allowed the girls to develop creative games in a short amount of time with limited programming experience:

Results

We are very proud to report that at the end of the program year, 100% of IT Girl participants, individually or in pairs, successfully designed and programmed their own unique game!

Attitudinal surveys were developed to assess whether the program was successful in promoting and sustaining participants' interest in Computer Science. The following findings emerged:

  1. High school girls attracted to the IT Girl curriculum positively associate an interest in computer science with intelligence and creativity.
  2. IT Girl was successful in building participant’s confidence that they could succeed academically in Computer Science.
  3. IT Girl had a modest impact on enhancing participants’ interest in enrolling in science, math, engineering, or technology courses in high school.
  4. IT Girl was highly successful in demonstrating the applications of technology in everyday life and sustaining student interest in the IT Girl program.
  5. While external motivations were present for some participants, most girls were motivated to complete their games by intrinsic factors.
  6. More than half of the participants chose to work independently on their games, rather than in pairs.

A multiple-choice test of general programming concepts and Python syntax was created to assess the effectiveness of the IT Girl curriculum in advancing the technological knowledge of high school participants. The following findings emerged:

  1. Results showed that high school participants showed gains on all questions of general programming knowledge.
  2. Results showed that high school participants showed gains on all questions of Python programming knowledge.
  3. Participants had mixed feelings about programming after completing Year 2 of the program.

Finished Games

The following games are eligible for the XO laptop, meaning they use only materials (sounds, images, etc) in the public domain or under the Creative Commons license. Each game includes a credits.txt file with attributions for materials used. Other girls' games used copyrighted material found on the internet. All code is licensed under the GPL.

These games have NOT been tested on the XO laptop. There are many known issues in the games, including high CPU usage.

AIDS Maze screenshot.jpg
AIDS Maze 		Bubble screenshot.jpg
Bubble 		El viaje screenshot.jpg
El viaje de Paco por Amor 		Fifty Nifty States screenshot.jpg
The Fifty Nifty States
Get a Clue screenshot.jpg
Get a Clue! 		Homework Rush screenshot.jpg
Homework Rush 		How to Save a Life screenshot.jpg
How to Save a Life 		Jungle Math screenshot.jpg
Jungle Math
Let's Bake screenshot.jpg
Let's Bake!! 		Math Concentration screenshot.jpg
Math Concentration 		Mayhem at the Museum screenshot.jpg
Mayhem at the Museum 		Musical Paint screenshot.jpg
Musical Paint
NACOS screenshot.jpg
NACOS 		Road Trip screenshot.jpg
Road Trip 		Save the Whales screenshot.jpg
Save the Whales 		Stayin Alive screenshot.jpg
Stayin' Alive
Swappin Color screenshot.jpg
Swappin' Colors
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