The Wicked Problem of Dropouts

Paper in proceeding, 2024

Why do young girls leave coding classes? The research presented in this report takes a deep dive into exploring the complex factors influencing the dropout rates of girls involved in a Creative Coding project. Creative Coding initiative targets female empowerment, girls aged 10-15, by combining the worlds of coding and music in one learning environment. The project's primary objectives are to empower girls in the realms of technology and creativity, enhance their social capital, and foster their engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) disciplines. Despite its noble intentions, usage of the interesting innovative audio-visual tool, and collaboration with specifically chosen mentors and teachers that collaborated on this project, we observed a substantial dropout rate during its initial phases. This study honestly and rigorously investigates the underlying reasons for 50% attrition looking at it as a wicked problem, and explores potential remedies.