"Success Strategies for Engaging Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)"

The following webcast on "Success Strategies for Engaging Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)" was hosted by the ITEST Learning Resource Center on Wednesday September 21st, 2005. An expert panel of speakers was assembled from the ITEST community, private sector and research and policy communities. Close to one hundred participants joined the discussion. Together, they explored:

Speakers included:

Carroll McGillin, National Initiatives Manager, Cisco Networking Academy Program, Cisco Systems.

Cisco Systems, Inc. and the Cisco Learning Institute, recognizing the current gender gap in the IT field, partnered in April 2000 and developed the Gender Initiative project. This initiative seeks ways to increase females' access to IT training and career opportunities, beginning with the Cisco Networking Academy(tm) Program which is aimed at helping narrow the gender gap and increase female participation in the Internet economy.

Marcia Kropf, Chief Operating Officer, Girls Inc.

Girls Incorporated is a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. With roots dating to 1864, Girls Inc has provided vital educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. Today, innovative programs help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling lives.

Speakers from the ITEST Community included:

Claudia Morrell, Principal Investigator (PI), Enhancing Science and Technology Education and Exploration Mentoring (ESTEEM) project, Center for Women and IT.

In this project, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County’s Center for Women and Information Technology, the Shriver Center, and the Chabot Space and Science Center are partnered to implement and beta test Chabot's TechBridge curriculum in six middle schools. Activities include an after-school program, weekend fieldtrips, and a four-week summer program. The ESTEEM program focuses on encouraging girls' interest and involvement in elective information technology (IT) classes and supports their pursuit of IT careers.

Randal August, PI, Robotics: Fundamentals of Information Technology and Engineering project, Northeastern University.

TechBoston and Northeastern University are working collaboratively to integrate an innovative robotics curriculum into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses in the Boston Public Schools and in other racially diverse and economically disadvantaged Massachusetts school districts. The project targets 90 STEM teachers in grades seven and eight, each of whom receive summer professional development and follow-up support in leading yearlong after-school robotics programs.

Deborah Muscella, PI, Technology at the Crossroads project, Simmons College

This project engages middle school youth (with particular emphasis on girls) in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) and HTML programming for use in conducting environmental research in Boston. The program is comprised of a spring after-school component, three-week summer camp (held on the campus of Simmons College) and a fall after-school component.

Webcast Materials:

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