Project discription

The PIONIERIN project (Programm zur Inspiration und Orientierung zum Informatikstudium für Schülerinnen - English: Programme to inspire and provide orientation on studying informatics for girls) aims to pave the way for talented and interested female pupils aged 17 and over to study computer science in order to increase the proportion of academically qualified female computer scientists in the long term and thus contribute to the equal participation of women in research and innovation processes. In digital fabrication workshops, the pupils actively engage with computer science content that forms a bridge in terms of content between previous (extracurricular) courses and later university courses in the degree program phase. The pupils also learn about studying computer science, including through role model presentations and the presentation of computer science job profiles, as their own future prospects, become familiar with the university as a place of learning and build up their own network with like-minded people.

The workshops each focus on a core topic that is both a fundamental part of a computer science degree and closely linked to the respective working group. The Bamberg Cognitive Systems working group is developing workshops on the topic of artificial intelligence, the Didactics of Computer Science working group in Hildesheim is devoting its workshops to the topic of environmental informatics and the Koblenz Computer Science and its Didactics working group will develop workshops on the topic of programming and modeling. On the research side, the workshops will be qualitatively evaluated by the Kassel working group on Participatory IT Design – particularly with regard to intersectional perspectives.

Project partners

The Pionierin project is being carried out by the universities of Koblenz, Hildesheim, Kassel and Bamberg. The project partners are represented with different specialisations: Didactics of informatics, participation-orientated IT design and cognitive systems.

• Prof. Dr. Nadine Dittert, University Koblenz, Head of the research group Computer Science and its Didactics (Project lead)
• Prof. Dr. Nils Pancratz, University Hildesheim, Head of the research group Didactics of Computer Science
• Prof. Dr. Claude Draude, University Kassel, Head of the research group Participatory IT Design
• Prof. Dr. Ute Schmid, University Bamberg, Head of the research group Cognitive Systems

Research focus of the University of Koblenz

The University of Koblenz is responsible for developing the basic didactic concept for the workshops of the participating universities. The following tasks are particularly in focus:

• The identification of relevant content that the students are already familiar with, e.g. through participation in (extra-)curricular courses or workshops.
• The comparison of the previously identified content with common content from the initial phase of a computer science degree programme, with the aim of uncovering gaps in knowledge.
• The development of a didactic workshop concept that addresses the identified knowledge gaps and serves as the basis for the development of the individual workshops at the respective universities.

The University of Koblenz also focuses on networking/b> with other STEM research projects as well as educational and extracurricular facilities (e.g. schools or extracurricular learning centres). The focus here is on the tasks:

• Approaching and recruiting participants.
• Networking and cooperation with other STEM research projects.
• The organisation of digital fabrication camps for girls as well as training for interested teachers or those involved in other STEM research projects.