NGCP Updates |
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Collaboration in Action You
can participate in the National Girls Collaborative Project network in
many ways. Here are just a few: enter your organization or program in
the Program Directory to
network, share resources, and collaborate on STEM-related projects for
girls. If you don't have a local collaborative, you can find project
partners via this online resource matching service. Use the free
resources in the webcast archives in which practitioners and researchers from across the country share effective strategies for working with girls in STEM.
NGCP Announces Collaboration Award Recipients
In recognition of our first Collaboration Conference, NGCP project
leadership created the Collaboration Awards to celebrate and bring
attention to the important work of special individuals and organizations
that live and breathe collaboration to achieve their vision.
Congratulations to our inaugural award recipients: Kate Pickle,
National Program Manager, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
(STEM), Girl Scouts of the USA and the Motorola Foundation. http://www.edlabgroup.org/about/pressrelease/pr38.html.
NGCP Webcast Collaboration Conference Highlights
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
11:00 AM Pacific
The National Girls Collaborative Project held the first national NGCP Collaboration Conference
on October 20-22 in Washington, D.C. Over 160 participants engaged in
meaningful networking and professional development activities, all
focused on engaging more girls in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics. This webcast will feature highlights from the conference.
Participants will share perspectives of the event and outcomes for their
projects or organizations.
Register for the webcast: http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=183
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Regional Collaborative News |
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NGCP Regional Collaborative Mini-Grants
NGCP mini-grants
are designed to enhance access to and build collaboration between
programs and resources. Mini-grant application resources, including a
sample application, research based strategies, and evaluation
requirements are available online at http://www.ngcproject.org/mini-grant/app-resources.cfm. These collaboratives are currently offering mini-grants:
- Michigan mini-grants close December 15, 2010.
- Midwest mini-grants close January 30, 2011.
- Wisconsin mini-grants close December 15, 2010.
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Featured Mini-Grant |
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Tea for Two and Buds & Blooms
Tea for Two and Buds & Blooms
served middle school girls and their mothers in rural middle Tennessee.
The events used fun hands-on activities as a way to introduce girls to
STEM careers. Both events were a collaboration between GRITS
(Girls Raised in Tennessee Science), University of Tennessee Extension
Services, Three Rivers Community Health-Hickman, and Perry County
Medical Center. Women in a variety of STEM related professions served as
role models. Girls were introduced to science and chemistry by making
personal beauty products using everyday household items. In addition,
they discovered the effects of UV rays when reacting with a photochromic
substance in nail polish. Girls reported these events opened their mind
to science as something fun and accessible as a career choice.
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Upcoming STEM Events |
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Computer Science Education Week
December 5 - 11, 2010
CSEdWeek
seeks to raise awareness of the critical role computer science
education during a week of events, sponsored activities, and public
pledges to participate. Participate to help:
- eliminate misperceptions about computer science and computing careers
- communicate the endless opportunities for which computer science
education prepares students within K-12, and into higher education and
careers
- provide information and activities for students, educators, parents,
and IT professionals to advocate for computer science education at all
levels
Cyberlearning Tools for STEM Education
Berkeley, CA
March 8 - 9, 2011
The goal of this conference is to bridge the research to practice gap
and address important trends and issues on how cyberlearning tools can
improve and reform K-12 STEM education. Day one will focus on research
and development and day two will explore implementation and integration
of cyberlearning tools in STEM learning environments.
http://cyberlearningstem.org
National Science Teachers Association National Conference
San Francisco, CA
March 10 - 13, 2011
This year's theme is "Celebrating the Joy of Science: Imagine and Create". Conference strands include:
- Embracing Technology in the 21st Century Classroom
- Accessing Language Through Science and Mathematics Content
- Exploring Earth, Wind, and Fire
- Building Scientific Minds: Inspiring Teaching and Effective Learning
International Technology & Engineering Educators Association (ITEA) Annual Conference
Minneapolis, MN
March 24 - 26, 2011
This year's theme is "Preparing the STEM Workforce: The Next Generation".
A sample of sessions topics include Engineering by Design Labs,
educational industry tours, grant writing, and teaching the design
process to grades K-6.
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Resources |
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Gotta Have IT
is an all-in-one computing resource kit designed for educators. Gotta
Have IT is for all students, and is especially focused on building
awareness and inspiring interest in computing for girls. The resource
kit includes high quality posters, information on digital media, and
information on computing and careers. Gotta Have IT is a resource
produced by the National Center for Women & Information Technology.
http://www.ncwit.org
Disney's Planet Challenge
Disney's Planet Challenge
is a project-based environmental competition for grades 4-6 and
encourages conducting field research, formulating solutions to problems,
and promotes community involvement. Program collaborations include the
National Science Teachers Association, the WESTEd K-12 Alliance, the
U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and the California Department of Education. Grand prize winners
will travel to Disneyland. The program is free and registration is open
until December 17, 2010.
Scitable
Scientific American and Nature magazines have launched Scitable
a free science library and personal learning tool concentrating on
topics such as genetics, ecology, and cell biology. The site also offers
information on career paths for budding scientists.
Online Interactive Math Resources for Middle School Youth
The STEM Collaborative
project includes four Web sites where real-life math comes alive for
middle school students. Math by Design allows users to create virtual
environments using geometry and measurement skills; Proportion Land is
an amusement park that uses reasoning skills to solve fun challenges;
Scale City is a virtual road trip through Kentucky, where youth learn
about the mathematics of scale; and Rock n' Roll Road Trip allows for
mastery of measurement, ratio, and proportion while traveling the globe.
The STEM Collaborative project is made possible in part by the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
NOAA Resources
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a federal
agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA
offers educational gaming, field guides, eBooks, and resources for both
kids and educators. The newest educational game series "Water Life"provides
challenges for students in fourth through seventh grades to learn
science content about human impacts on ecosystems and marine species. http://www.noaa.gov
STAR_Net Is Ready for Launch!
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently awarded the Space Science Institute's National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL)
a $2.5 million grant for its national program to bring science and
technology exhibits to libraries. NCIL's STAR_Net Project (STAR stands
for Science-Technology, Activities and Resources) is based on a
successful pilot program for Colorado libraries called Discover Space.
STAR_Net will develop interactive traveling exhibit and education
programs with a focus on hands-on learning:
- Discover
Earth will introduce local earth science topics, such as weather and
water resources, as well as a big picture view of our changing planet
for a global context.
- Discover Tech is designed to show how technology is constantly
changing our lives, while also providing solutions to important human
problems. The topical areas addressed include: My Robot, High Impact
Technology, and Green Energy.
Discover
Earth exhibitions will begin by late 2011, and Discover Tech will
travel to eight libraries around the country beginning in mid-2012.
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Global Resources |
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African University of Science and Technology (AUST) Pilots STEM Program
AUST
will begin piloting a STEM program in three secondary schools in the
Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. AUST will provide university
students as volunteers to enhance the current STEM offerings of local
teachers. These volunteers will supplement the curriculum with hands-on
real life applications to provide engaging experiences for learners. The
AUST STEM Program is additionally focused on shifting the culture for
girls, who traditionally take non-science related courses because of
fear and perceived difficulty of science and mathematics. AUST plans to
host a one-week math camp to address this issue, thanks to generous
support from Texas Instruments and Working for the Advancement of
African Women Foundation. http://allafrica.com/stories/201011030606.html
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American
Association of University
Women
(AAUW) members across the
country are serving as
Regional Liaisons for the National
Girls
Collaborative Project. These
Regional
Liaisons help the people involved
in the NGCP
to make connections - to one
another, to
resources on gender equity, and to
AAUW.
AWE
is the Assessing Women and Men
in
Engineering
Project, which provides exportable
assessment
instruments, literature resources,
and methodologies
for Women in Engineering and
similar programs. AWE is developing
resources for
use by K-12 STEM programs as part of
NGCP
services.
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The goal of the National Girls Collaborative Project
is to maximize access to shared resources within
projects and with public and private sector
organizations and institutions interested in
expanding girls' participation in STEM.
Find out more....
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