Elements of a Successful Program
1. Target Middle School Girls Rationale: Middle school is a critical time that influences girls' future interest in science and engineering. Decisions that girls make in the middle school years affect their ability to enroll in advanced level courses in high school. Activities/Resources: Recruit program participants by contacting:
Schedule time for middle school girls to talk with high school girls taking Physics or AP Calculus.
2. Career Explorations Rationale: There is a low level of awareness among girls about what engineers do on a daily basis as well as about the academic requirements to become an engineer. An increased level of awareness provides girls with knowledge of engineering career options.
Activities/ Resources: Ask the local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) or an engineering firm to sponsor a career day or Parent/Daughter night to discuss the changing role of women in the work force and the skills girls need for engineering related job. Take your girls to an Expanding Your Horizons Conference. Activity Suggestions:
3. Engineering and Science Enrichment Explorations Rationale: Research indicates that patterns of teacher behavior and classroom organization influence boys and girls differently. A meta-study by Elizabeth Fennema on gender differences in learning documents that in general, competitive activities encourage boys' learning but have a negative effect on girls' learning. Activities/Resources: Provide girls with an opportunity to explore hands-on science and engineering activities in small cooperative learning groups. Building confidence and self esteem are key to girls' success in mathematics and science. 4. Technology Skills Rationale: Studies have found that a computer gender gap usually starts becoming noticeable at the middle school level and widens as girls get older. Many girls perceive computers as a male domain and tend not to enroll in advanced courses that have anything to do with these "male" subjects. Activities/ Resources: Assess the software you use. Is it male oriented? If so order a broader variety of software. Offer a girls only computer or programming class or divide your computer lab once a week into single sex small groups. Use computer lab partners ( most girls work better in teams). The following organizations may be able to assist you if you do not have access to a computer lab.
5. Family Involvement Rationale: Increasing parental/guardian awareness of engineering opportunities and prerequisites will support girls in their pursuit of engineering related careers. Activities/ Resources: Hold periodic family events where girls can showcase their projects; parents can learn more about career opportunities and academic preparation; and girls can engage in some hands-on activities with their families. Stimulate parents to think about their own attitudes. Do they:
6. Female Staff with Engineering Backgrounds Rationale: Providing girls with female engineering role models builds confidence and a "can do" attitude.. Activities/ Resources: In the Girls RISE model all instructors were female engineering students who facilitated small group learning activities and served as mentors for each Girls RISE team. Professional engineers served as guest speakers, pen pals, and visiting instructors. Contact your local universities, professional organizations and engineering companies to assist with recruiting female engineering students or professionals.
Key Implementation Questions/Checklist
How Well Does it Fit? 1. To what extent do the goals of the Girls RISE program address needs within your community and the mission of your organization?
Program Goals 1. To build competent, confident, enthusiastic learners equipped with advanced computer and technology skills.
2. To expose girls to a variety of engineering careers through interaction with professional women employed in science and engineering related fields.
3. To increase girls' confidence in their ability to perform in traditionally male dominated technical and engineering arenas while improving their problem solving, decision making, critical thinking and information processing skills.
4. To foster sustained participation in engineering related studies reducing the attrition that occurs as girls move from middle school to high school.
Who Else is Doing it? 2. Are there similar programs already being conducted in your community? If yes, are there opportunities for collaboration?
What Resources Do We Have Here? 3. Which of the key program elements can you address with your in-house resources?
Who Can Help? 4. Which of the key program elements will you need assistance with?
What Will We Have to Change? 5. What adaptations might be needed to replicate this program within your community and organization?
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