Summary
Handout on gender-reflective work with elementary school children
Implementing organization
JKU Linz - Department for Human Resource Development, Gender and Diversity Management /Contact
Dr. Margit Waid, margit.waid@jku.at
Sandra Nuspl, sandra.nuspl@jku.at
Implemented/introduced
Created in 2014, in existence since
Relation to gender equality targets
Development Plan 2013-2018: Long term thinking is required if women are to be inspired to consider careers in science and technology. By actively engaging the professional profile of male and female academics across the entire course of education, gender-specific awareness in particular is to be expanded further. In order to draw attention to science from an early age, measures related to the transfer of knowledge focusing on children of various ages, have been designed and implemented in cooperation with external organizations more extensively since 2009.
The objective(s) of the tool
The handout is primarily intended as an aid for primary school teachers to spark school pupils’ interest in technical and social areas alike and thereby lay the foundation for a choice of study and career irrespective of gender.
Description of the tool
The handout was developed and published as part of the project “MIT-JIP: Mädchen in die Technik – Jungen in die Pädagogik” (“Girls in engineering – boys in education”). MIT-JIP was initiated by Johannes Kepler University Linz and the University of Passau, with the primary aim of encouraging the interests of girls and boys disconnected from all considerations gender, in order to expand their choices in relation to career and higher education. Conducted as part of the program INTERREG Bavaria – Austria 2007-2013, the project was co-financed with support from the European Regional Development Fund. Since early school education plays a vital role in maintaining and changing traditional gender roles, the project’s work with school directors and teachers from elementary schools in Upper Austria and Lower Bavaria proved to be of key importance. The handout is a compendium of texts and exercises on the theme, including numerous examples and photocopy masters.
How the tool works, practical experience
This extensive collection of stimuli, practical teaching materials, and additional references was sent to all elementary schools in the project region of Lower Bavaria and Upper Austria. It is intended to provide practical assistance with encouraging girls’ and boys’ interests free from gender bias. The handout is very popular and has already had to be reprinted. It can be ordered from gd@jku.at
Attachments
Handout for gender-reflective work with elementary school children (public):
Published by: Johannes Kepler University Linz - Department for Gender & Diversity Management; University of Passau - Women’s Office; edited by Dr. Teresa Schweiger, Philipp Leeb (poika); Layout: Philipp Leeb; printed by COMO GmbH