FEMALE-INCLUSIVE MATH AND SCIENCE INSTRUCTION: INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA COURSEWARE BASED ON VERBAL MODALITIES AND A NON-AGGRESSIVE ATMOSPHERE

THE MALE-BIASED INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGIES USED IN SCHOOLS ARE RESULTING IN THE ALIENATION OF FEMALE STUDENTS FROM MATH AND SCIENCE. FEMALE STUDENTS ARE DROPPING OUT OF MATH AND SCIENCE AT AN EARLY AGE, WITH A RESULTING LOSS IN SELF-ESTEEM AND A LIMITING OF FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. A CRITICAL NEED EXISTS FOR METHODS OF INSTRUCTION THAT INTRODUCE MATH AND SCIENCE IN AN ENCOURAGING WAY TO PRIMARY-LEVEL FEMALE STUDENTS. THE RESEARCH EXPLORES THE POTENTIAL FOR INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA COURSEWARE EMPHASIZING THE USE OF STORYTELLING; SING-A-LONGS, AND NON-AGGRESSIVE GAMES TO TEACH MATH AND SCIENCE IN FEMALE STUDENTS AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL (K-3). THE EFFECT OF SUCH COURSEWARE IS TO PROMOTE FEMALE IDENTITY WITH THE SUBJECTS, IMPROVE INTEREST AND PERFORMANCE, AND INDIRECTLY BOOST CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM. THE RESEARCH TEAM IS DEVELOPING PROTOTYPE LESSONS AND EVALUATING THE DESIGN. SPECIMEN MULTIMEDIA COURSEWARE IS BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT.