When it comes to a student's interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) there’s no "math gene" or the "science gene" that gets bestowed on the fortunate few, like the tooth fairy leaving a quarter under their pillow. There’s just gender norms and mindsets that need changing. A Dell Technologies’ program called Girls Who Game aims to help that change happen faster.

“Girls can do anything they want to do,” said Natalie, a seventh-grade student in the program. “Girls Who Game got me interested in STEM because it's usually boys who go after STEM, not girls. And I think Girls Who Game gives girls a chance to show boys that we can do it, too.”

There’s science to prove Natalie’s point. A 2019 Carnegie Mellon University study found that girls and boys start out with no discernible difference in ability when it comes to learning math. In fact, when girls persist in science fields, they excel academically.

That’s why Dell Technologies teamed up with Microsoft and Intel in 2019 to create an after-school program for young girls and underserved K-12 students across the U.S. and Canada called Girls Who Game (GWG). The program uses Minecraft: Education Edition as a tool to teach the girls communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

"We needed to change that narrative, and video games are cool," said Katina Papulkas, Dell Technologies education strategist. "They're fun, and they speak to a different set of girls who might not be engaged by the word 'code.'”  

The program uses problem-based learning and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals as course material and motivation to solve big problems, Papulkas explained. This semester student teams are designing a community with clean energy as well as gender equity. In doing this, the girls go through the design-thinking process to build something that's going to benefit themselves as well as their community. 

Dell, Intel, and Microsoft provide devices, software, and the curriculum to schools to create a safe, girl-powered community of practice where students can feel comfortable making mistakes to learn, grow, and build confidence. 

“We’re trying to surround them with inspiration and awareness to encourage their interests,” Papulkas said. “In doing this, we can build an entire ecosystem from early elementary being supportive all the way into the career path.”

Female role models and mentors are paramount in the program's success to inspire girls and increase their awareness.

“I have an excellent mentor who appreciates the team and does everything she can to make the team participate,” Natalie said. "She gets us all working together and gives excellent ideas for projects. My future career goal is to be a science teacher because I think if I become a teacher one day, that would really help girls to achieve their goals.”

The notion of “if you see it, you can be it” rings loud and true here. Exposing girls to successful role models can help counter the negative stereotypes and misconceptions about technology that influence some girls to overlook the opportunities available to them in STEM careers.

“There's no linear path where a girl says, ‘I'm going to be in STEM’ or ‘this is my one direction,’” Papulkas said. “All of these women [mentors] have so many different squiggly lines of how they reached where they are and the challenges that they've had to overcome. In telling their stories, we give these girls role models that they can look up to and say ‘I can be like that person.’”

Dell, Intel, Microsoft, and GWG are working with schools across North America to change the boys-club narrative and eliminate the “I can’t do that” rhetoric early on, which frequently stops young girls from pursuing their interests and limits their potential.

“This really is a societal issue,” Papulkas added. “It's not just for tech companies to solve, the collective we have to solve this. It's been too long. We all have to be part of this conversation.”

To that end, male employees at Dell are stepping up as allies and asking how they can be a part of the program, Papulkas said. “I always say, women are 50% of the population, you [men] are the other half. We need you as well.”