National Science Foundation Award: BRITE Girls Online STEM Practices: Building Relevance and Identity to Transform Experiences

The National Science Foundation has awarded $1.9 million dollars across 3 years in support of  BRITE Girls Online STEM Practices: Building Relevance and Identity to Transform Experiences. Led by Florida State University, with the National Girls Collaborative Project, and Smart Girls HQ as key partners.

The project team will examine the STEM identity development of girls via the implementation of an online learning community that brings together girls from across the U.S. Dr. Roxanne Hughes will lead a research team that includes Dr. Qian Zhang, to study the impact of three core approaches: 1) community building, 2) hands-on activities, and 3) learning with women role models on girls’ STEM identities.

Abi Olukeye, Founder, Smart Girls HQ, will lead the design and technical implementation of the online community. NGCP will manage program design and implementation, including recruitment of role models and participants, and training of educators. NGCP will manage program design and implementation, including recruitment of role models and participants, and training of educators.

400 self-identifying girls, ages 13-16, from ten sites, will participate in the Brite Online Learning Community and 20 educators will receive training in the three core approaches. Participating girls will gain exposure to diverse STEM careers and role models, equipping girls with access to resources and a support network to make decisions about STEM and their futures.

Overall, the product of this work will include research-based, tested Brite Practices, equipping researchers and practitioners with a transformative toolkit for fostering girls’ interest, identification, and long-term participation in STEM. The Brite Practices will be disseminated across the United States through NGCP’s network which supports and facilitates collaboration between more than 42,500 organizations serving over 20.2 million girls.

AISL: BRITE Girls Online STEM Practices: Building Relevance and Identity to Transform Experiences, Grant No. DRL-2215138.