How Women Changed the World

Beginning with Lady Ada Lovelace, women have made an important impact in the field of technology, but their roles are usually underreported. In order to honor women during Women's History Month, students will research the roles women played in the development of technology. In addition to traditional research, students will also interview female family members and friends to see how the new technologies of their era influenced their use of technology. The final product will be a podcast or movie that pairs the history of technology with the actual use of technology by women.

Within the classroom, students will learn how to do research: how to use key words for effective searching, how to narrow or broaden their focus based on search results, and how to take notes from the Internet without plagiarizing. Students will also learn how to use the software and hardware necessary for creating their video, as well as design techniques. Students will create storyboards and learn time management in order to make sure they have all the necessary elements to create an informational video.

Outside the classroom, students will interview female family members and friends using a digital voice recorder to record personal experiences with new technologies. These interviews will be published as podcasts or incorporated into the video along with narration.

Students will put their research, graphics, music, and interviews together to make a cohesive product explaining the role of women in the history of technology combined with the actual usage of technology by women.