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Board 191: Are female faculty role models to female students in higher education? A study of teachers’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in computer science and engineering

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Women in Engineering Division (WIED) Poster Session

Tagged Division

Women in Engineering Division (WIED)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--42582

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/42582

Download Count

158

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Paper Authors

biography

Qian Wang Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)

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Dr. Qian ”Sarah” Wang is a Research Director, Ph.D. supervisor, and former Program Director of the MA in Global Education at the Academy of Future Education, XJTLU. Dr. Sarah graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York (MA in Social-organizational Psychology; Ed.D in Education Leadership). Her research focuses on technology-enhanced education innovation, leadership, teacher development, and student learning in transnational education. Her work emphasizes learning autonomy and emotion, action learning, action research, teacher identity, and managerial practices for quality assurance in education.

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biography

Biying Wen Liverpool University; University of Liverpool

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Biying Wen is a Ph.D. student at the Academy of Future Education, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China; University of Liverpool, UK. Before that, Biying obtained her bachelor’s degree from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, majoring in logistics management and master's degree from the Business School (IBSS) of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, majoring in operation and supply chain management.

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Abstract

Contrary to the long-standing initiatives to improve gender equity in the STEM field, computer science and engineering disciplines have progressed reversely (Blaney, 2020). Studies show that although there has been an increase in women earning PhDs in computer science and engineering, the percentage of female faculty members has not increased as much (Blaney & Wofford, 2021). That evidence suggests that both female students and female faculty are marginalized groups in computer science and engineering. Yet, little is known about how female faculty construct their roles and responsibilities to advance gender equity. Guided by the identity and position theory, affordance theory, and mentor-mentee framework, this qualitative study explores female faculty perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in computer science and engineering. The study will also collect data from male computer science and engineering faculty to analyze how attitudes, behaviors, and performances vary due to gender differences. Findings will explain whether teachers’ gender identity influences their perceived roles and responsibilities and how they carry out their roles and responsibilities in interactions with students, especially female students. The study will provide theoretical insight into gender equality in computer science and engineering and provide appropriate support to female faculty who can serve as role models and mentors to female students in computer science and engineering.  

Reference Blaney, J. M. (2020). Gender and leadership development in undergraduate computing: A closer look at women’s leadership conceptions. Computer Science Education, 30(4), 469-499. Blaney, J. M., & Wofford, A. M. (2021). Fostering Ph. D. aspirations among upward transfer students in computing. Computer Science Education, 31(4), 489-511.

Wang, Q., & Wen, B. (2023, June), Board 191: Are female faculty role models to female students in higher education? A study of teachers’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in computer science and engineering Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--42582

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