KISS Institute Joins the National Center for Women & Information Technology's K-12 Alliance
KISS Institute for Practical Robotics has accepted an invitation to join the National Center for Women & Information Technology’s K-12 Alliance. Members of the K-12 Alliance include organizations committed to cultivating participation in STEM activities among female K-12 students, particularly those activities that focus on computing and computer science.
Norman, OK - November 25, 2009 - KISS Institute for Practical Robotics has accepted an invitation from the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) to join their K-12 Alliance, a coalition committed to boosting girls participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related activities at the K-12 level. “We believe in the NCWIT’s mission. Their goals match ours perfectly,” says Steve Goodgame, KISS Institute Executive Director.
“Inspiring more women to choose careers in IT isn’t about parity; it’s a compelling issue of innovation, competitiveness, and workforce sustainability. In a global economy, gender diversity in IT means a larger and more competitive workforce; in a world dependent on innovation, it means the ability to design technology that is as broad and creative as the people it serves,” explains a NCWIT representative.
In order to achieve their vision, the Alliance focuses on addressing key issues and initiatives such as improving computing and computer science education at the K-12 level and breaking down barriers to female participation. In addition, the Alliance is devoted to changing the way the general public perceives the field of information technology while educating them on the uses of computational literacy in other career fields.
“We want to inspire all girls, making them more confident, aware, and interested in computing, says a representative of NCWIT.
“Currently twenty-six percent of all Botball student participants are female,” says Goodgame. “We would love to see that number rise above the fifty percent mark.”
Botball and KISS Institute for Practical Robotics
Botball is a team-oriented robotics competition that engages students by challenging them to create two autonomous (software controlled) robots that work together to complete the tasks of each year’s Botball game.
By participating in Botball, students learn the principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on experience with computer programming, sensors, and mechanical systems. The Botball competition also develops students’ teamwork and communication skills through required written project documentation and oral presentations.
Over 6,000 students participate in Botball every year, and over 40,000 have participated over the course of its history.
Botball is a program of KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Norman, Oklahoma.
Contact
KISS Institute for Practical Robotics
1818 W. Lindsey
Bldg. D, Ste. 100
Norman, OK 73069
Phone: (405) 579-4609
Fax: (405) 329-4664
Email: info@kipr.org