Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Practical Approaches to Increase Girls’ Interest in Technology Education

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Explorations in Technology Education Research

Part of the book series: Contemporary Issues in Technology Education ((CITE))

  • 536 Accesses

Abstract

Education has an important impact on preparing children and young adults to participate in future society. To introduce a more equitable gender balance in technology-oriented fields and, consequently, in the labour market, our knowledge of technology education and gender-related issues should continue to expand and to receive attention. Numerous studies have indicated the importance of how technological activities are conducted in class and how teachers can influence students’ motivation through the application of different pedagogical approaches. This chapter draws on research to enrich understanding of how to increase girls’ interest in technology education by highlighting some practical suggestions for developing technology education in the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Acker, J. (1990). Hierarchies, jobs, bodies: A theory of gendered organizations. Gender & Society, 4(2), 139–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, R. S., Turns, J., & Atman, C. J. (2003). Educating effective engineering designers: The role of reflective practice. Design Studies, 24(3), 275–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ardies, J. (2015). Students’ attitudes towards technology. A cross-sectional and longitudinal study in secondary education. Doctoral dissertation. Antwerpen: Universiteit Antwerpen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, F., & Barlex, D. (2014). Teaching STEM in the secondary school: Helping teachers meet the challenge. New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Compton, V. (2011). Technology in the primary sector in New Zealand. The journey this far and where to next…. In C. Benson & J. Lunt (Eds.), International handbook of primary technology education. Reviewing the past twenty years (pp. 29–38). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Crismond, D. P., & Adams, R. S. (2012). The informed design teaching and learning matrix. Journal of Engineering Education, 101(4), 738–797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elshof, L. (2011). Technology education: Overcoming the general motors syndrome. In M. de Vries (Ed.), Positioning technology education in the curriculum (pp. 145–162). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2013a). Gendered innovations. How gender analysis contributes to research. Research and innovation. Report of the expert group ‘innovation through gender’. European Commission. Luxenbourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2013b). She figures 2012. Gender in research and innovation. Statistics and indicators. European Commission. Luxenbourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2016). She figures 2015. Gender in research and innovation. European Commission. Luxenbourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klapwijk, R., & Rommes, E. (2009). Career orientation of secondary school students (m/f) in the Netherlands. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 19(4), 403–418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-009-9095-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, P. (2007). Gender and pedagogy. In D. Barlex (Ed.), Design and technology: For the next generation (pp. 236–251). Shropshire: Cliffeco Communications.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Core Curriculum for Basic Education (NCCBE). (2004). Helsinki: The Finnish National Board of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). (2017). Background paper and brief for the review of junior cycletechnology subjects. Ireland: NCCA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlova, M. (2009). Conceptualisation of technology education within the paradigm of sustainable development. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 19(2), 109–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-008-9078-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasinen, A., Virtanen, S., Endepohls-Ulpe, M., Ikonen, P., Ebach, J., & Stahl-von Zabern, J. (2009). Technology education for children in primary schools in Finland and Germany: Different school systems, similar problems and how to overcome them. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 19(4), 368–379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-009-9097-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeve, J., Bolt, E., & Cai, Y. (1999). Autonomy-supportive teachers: How they teach and motivate students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91, 537–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritz, J. M., & Fan, S.-C. (2015). STEM and technology education: International state-of-the-art. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 25(4), 429–451. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-014-9290-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rockstroh, D. (2013). Are we there yet? Questioning whether sustainability is the destination or journey for design & technology education. In P. J. Williams & D. Gedera (Eds.), Technology education for the future: A play on sustainability (pp. 400–406). Waikato: University of Waikato.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sander, E. (2012). Biographies of female scientists in Austria: Results of an interview study. In C. Quaiser-Pohl & M. Endepohls-Ulpe (Eds.), Women’s choices in Europe. Influence of gender on education, occupational career and family development (pp. 107–122). Münster: Waxmann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schein, E. H. (1996). Career anchors revisited: Implications for career development in the 21st century. Academy of Management Executive, 10(4), 80–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Virtanen, S., Räikkönen, E., & Ikonen, P. (2015). Gender-based motivational differences in technology education. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 25(2), 197–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-014-9278-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volk, K. S. (2007). Attitudes. In M. de Vries, R. Custer, J. Dakers, & G. Martin (Eds.), Analyzing best practices in technology education (pp. 191–202). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, T., & Bencze, L. (2011). With head, hand and hearth: Children address ethical issues of Design in Technology Education. In K. Stables, C. Benson, & M. de Vries (Eds.), Perspectives on learning in design & technology education. PATT25/CRIPT8. London: Goldsmiths, University of London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P. J. (2009). Technological literacy: A multiliteracies approach for democracy. International Journal of Technology and Education, 19(3), 237–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-007-9046-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland

    Sonja Niiranen

Authors
  1. Sonja Niiranen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonja Niiranen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Curtin University, Perth, Australia

    P John Williams

  2. University of Exeter Associate, Brighton, UK

    David Barlex

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Niiranen, S. (2019). Practical Approaches to Increase Girls’ Interest in Technology Education. In: Williams, P.J., Barlex, D. (eds) Explorations in Technology Education Research. Contemporary Issues in Technology Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3010-0_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3010-0_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-3009-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-3010-0

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation