Girls outperform boys in test of tech-engineering literacy

A new study shows that eighth-grade girls are better than boys at thinking through problems and using technology to solve them.

Overall, it's a skill that about 43 percent of eighth-graders sufficiently possess.

The findings released Tuesday come from a first-of-its-kind assessment of technology and engineering literacy by The Nation's Report Card. The 2014 assessment had 21,500 students in 840 schools tackle real-life challenges on computers, such as designing a safe bicycle lane and improving a pet iguana's habitat.

The report found that 45 percent of girls and 42 percent of boys scored at or above proficient at understanding and using technology to develop solutions.

Bill Bushaw of the National Assessment Governing Board says girls should be encouraged to recognize that they possess the skills needed for technical careers.