This toolkit was published by Microsoft.

HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS TOOLKIT:

Careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and computer science (CS) are critical in shaping the world we live in and solving some of its biggest challenges. Unfortunately, despite the high priority placed on these subjects in school, only a fraction of girls and women are likely to pursue them. By the time they’re in college, for example, 58 percent of female students believe that jobs that require programming and coding are “not for them.” As long as half the population is less than fully represented in STEM and CS fields, we will miss out on the diverse perspectives needed to drive innovation and solve today’s toughest problems.

The good news is that there are steps we can all take to help close the gender gap in STEM and CS.

Microsoft commissioned a survey of over 6,000 girls and young women and conducted interviews with nonprofit and academic experts. We compiled the findings in an online report — and here we present what we learned in a simple guide for teachers, parents, and education and nonprofit leaders.