NGCP Webcast NCWIT Resources: Inspiring Girls to Pursue Careers in Information Technology

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific

NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology, a coalition of over 200 corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to increase women's meaningful participation in information technology (IT). This webcast will highlight free materials and information for attracting more girls and underrepresented groups to computing and information technology and share how formal and informal educators are using these resources to strengthen programming for girls.
Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=186

New Focus Fields added to the NGCP Online Program Directory
Many programs approach STEM from an interdisciplinary angle and combine science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with other relevant content. The Program Directory has added additional fields to more appropriately reflect these intersections. The program focus fields now include the following: science, technology, engineering, math, computer science, business, humanities, and the arts. Login today and search for programs with a similar focus to collaborate with: http://www.ngcproject.org/directory/programs.cfm.

Science Club for Girls Receives Award from the AfterSchool Alliance and MetLife Foundation
Last fall, the Afterschool Alliance and the MetLife Foundation awarded Science Club for Girls with a prestigious Afterschool Innovator Award. The grassroots organization was selected from over 300 nominations and is one of only two STEM programs selected, as well as the only girl-focused organization to receive the award. Science Club for Girls also serves as the Convening Organization for the Southern New England Girls Collaborative Project, which serves Massachusetts and Rhode Island using the NGCP model.
http://scienceclubforgirls.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/were-one-of-six-afterschool-innovator-award-winner

NGCP 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:

• GRITS (TN) Collaborative Project mini-grants close February 20, 2011.
• Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative Project mini-grants close February 28, 2011.

All Girls Rockets for Schools Team
The "Girls Rock-ets" All Girls Team is a collaboration between the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and Sheboygan County 4-H. The goal is to introduce girls to STEM through the process of constructing an 8-foot rocket. Girls spend six months preparing the rocket by sanding, measuring, epoxying, and designing the theme for their rocket. Teams design a functional and original payload for the rocket. The "Girls Rock-ets" had the honor of being the first all-girls team in Wisconsin to compete in the Rockets for Schools event held in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

The team helped lead rocket activities at the Sheboygan County 4-H Fun Fair, conducted a rocket building workshop, presented at the Wisconsin Girls Collaborative Conference in Madison ,and participated in a booth promoting the STEM fields at STEMfest in Milwaukee.
http://www.ngcproject.org/directory/programs.cfm?progid=1949

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
February 24 - May 8, 2011
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day serves as a call to action for parents and professionals to focus on getting more girls into engineering and technology. Each year during Engineers Week, "Girl Day" encourages thousands of women engineers, with support from their male counterparts, to directly mentor girls and young women in K-12 with hands-on experiences in engineering. In honor of its tenth anniversary, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day 2011 has set a goal to reach 10,000 10-year-old girls with positive engineering experiences during a ten-week period (February 24 - Mother's Day).
http://www.eweek.org/EngineersWeek/Introduce.aspx

Engineering Education Service Center's (EESC) 2011 Music Contest: Sing the Song of Engineering
Create a two to three minute song about engineering, technology, or computer science that shows your appreciation for the amazing inventions that make our lives better, easier, and more fun. From speakers and microphones to the instruments, amps, computers, and other technology -- engineers have designed it all. Deadline is March 22, 2011. For more complete contest regulations or to enter, visit: http://www.engineeringedu.com/musiccontest.html.

WebWise 2011
Baltimore, MD
March 9 - 11, 2011
The Institute of Museum and Library Services hosts the WebWise Conference annually to bring together representatives of museums, libraries, archives, systems science, education, and other fields to explore the many opportunities made possible by digital technologies.
http://webwise2011.library.du.edu/index.php

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.

NanoDays 2011: March 26 - April 3, 2011
NanoDays will feature a week of community-based educational outreach events to raise public awareness of nanoscale science, technology, and engineering throughout the United States. Events are organized by participants in the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), and take place at more than 200 science museums, research centers, and universities from Maine to Hawaii. NanoDays resources are available for digital download.

Google Launches a Global Online Science Fair
Google has partnered with NASA, CERN, National Geographic, Scientific American, and the LEGO Group to create a global STEM competition. Students aged 13 - 18 can enter as individuals or as teams of up to three. The Google Science Fair will culminate in a celebratory event at Google headquarters in California in July 2011, where finalists will compete for internships, scholarships, and prizes in front of a panel of celebrity scientist judges including Nobel Laureates and household names. The deadline is April 4, 2011.
http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair

National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) Professional Development Institute 2011
Arlington, VA
April 11 - 14, 2011
This year's theme is "Equity Matters in College & Careers". Learning opportunities and sessions include increasing the participation of women in STEM careers and implementing best practices for ensuring the success of special population students. To register: http://www.napequity.org/page.php?24

2011 National AfterSchool Association Annual Conference
Orlando, FL
April 16 - 18, 2011
This year's convention will feature themes focused on the key issues afterschool professionals face every day: STEM Beyond the Classroom, Global Learning in Afterschool, Advancing the Afterschool Profession, and Leading Afterschool. Observe projects and interact with young scientists at the NAA Science Fair and network with your peers and colleagues to share promising practices.
http://www.naaweb.org/default.asp?contentID=564

InvenTeam Initiative
The Lemelson-MIT Program is dedicated to honoring the acclaimed and unsung heroes who have helped improve our lives through invention. Applications are currently being accepted for 2011 - 2012 InvenTeams, which are teams of high school students, educators, and mentors. Teams receive grants up to $10,000 to invent technological solutions to real-world problems. The InvenTeam initiative is designed to excite high school students about invention, empower students through problem solving, and encourage an inventive culture in schools and communities. Register by April 22, 2011 at: http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/apply.html.

International Year of Chemistry
The International Year of Chemistry 2011 (IYC 2011) is a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind. IYC 2011 offers interactive, entertaining, and educational activities for all ages. The year 2011 coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize awarded to Madame Marie Curie and provides an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women to science.
http://www.chemistry2011.org

Outreach-in-a-Box: Discovering IT
NCWIT Programs-in-a-Box are comprehensive resources for accomplishing a parity goal. Outreach-in-a-Box: Discovering IT is a program to strengthen and diversify the IT pipeline through outreach to middle schools. Schools and informal education organizations can provide this resource to IT professionals who are interested in providing programs. IT professionals then use the resources to customize and deliver a classroom presentation and engage youth in hands-on activities that inspire and inform them about opportunities in IT.
http://www.ncwit.org/outreach

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Become an educator associate member of AIAA and access resources free of charge. Resources available for K-12 include: scholarships, design competitions, classroom grants, ask an engineer, and curriculum and homework help. Visit: http://www.aiaa.org.

Spotlight on African American Scientists
African Americans have made great strides as scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and inventors but are still largely underrepresented in many fields. In honor of Black History Month, introduce your students to the voices of African American scientists who are leaving their mark on science today. Free podcasts include discussions with engineers, pediatric surgeons, evolutionary biologists, and more.
http://www.scienceupdate.com/spotlights/african-american-scientists/

Get the Math
Get the Math, a new multimedia project from THIRTEEN and the team behind the hit PBS series Cyberchase, inspires middle and high school students to solve real-world problems with Algebra. The reality-style TV show and interactive Web site will include video, games, music, and educator resources. See how professionals working in fashion, videogame design, and music production use algebraic thinking with celebrity talents like: Hip-Hop Duo DobleFlo, Project Runway Winner Chloe Dao, and Video Game Developer Julia Detar. The show premieres February 20, 2011.
http://www.thirteen.org/get-the-math

Podcasts Available from the Conference on Science and Technology in Out of School Time
Download free podcasts from the 2010 National Conference on Science and Technology in Out of School Time. Some of the most popular selections include:

• Summer of Innovation and Partnerships for Afterschool STEM
• How National Youth Organizations are Approaching STEM
• From Science for Some to Science for Most
• Building Capacity for Science and Youth Development in OST

NGCP Program Directory - Register your Program Today!
The online Program Directory lists organizations and programs that focus on motivating girls to pursue STEM careers. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and collaborate on STEM-related projects for girls. When you sign up for the Program Directory, you will enter your program description, resources available within your organization, program and/or organizational needs, and contact information.
http://www.ngcproject.org/directory

United Nations Women Officially Launches Empowerment Agenda
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, developed by the U.N., has officially launched and is focused on promoting the rights of women worldwide. Speaking at United Nations headquarters in late January, Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director, presented her vision and 100 day action plan.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54250

Global Marathon
Join the National Engineers Week Foundation in a live worldwide forum on topics for, by and about current and future generations of women in engineering and technology. During the week of March 7 - 12, 2011, women in engineering and technology will "meet" with girls via live Internet chats, telephone conversations, webcasts and face-to-face events. Presenters and participants can join in the experience in any of six general regions including North America, Mexico/Latin America, UK/Europe, India, Africa/Middle East, and China.
http://www.eweek.org/EngineersWeek/GlobalMarathon.aspx?ContentID=229

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.