Program for Gender Equity in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (PGE): DEM:Women on the Prairie: Bringing Girls into Science through Environmental Stewardship

Kansas State University, Manhattan KS

Investigators

Abstract

This demonstration project, a collaborative network of faculty, public school teachers and counselors, and professionals in both private sector/non-profit organizations will deliver and evaluate activities designed to bolster and reinforce the interest of middle-school girls in SMET disciplines and careers. These activities are based on research showing that access to role models, career information, and hands-on activities have beneficial effects. A hands-on summer workshop, industrial site tours, classroom activities, visits with women scientists and engineers, activities developed in conjunction with commercial and service organizations, and a web site characterize the intervention for the 6th and 7th grade girls who participate. Furthermore, in response to research showing that professional development for teachers, interactions between teachers and scientists, and implementation of methods to address diversity and gender equity issues are of paramount importance in creating more gender equitable classrooms, middle-school and high-school teacher in science and mathematics will be invited to partner with University faculty in developing the summer workshop activities. In addition, they will be invited to participate in a graduate-level course on gender equity in science and mathematics education and conduct action research projects that can be shared within the collaborative network. Finally, packets with information on both various SMET careers and on women who are currently employed in these fields, will be distributed to school counselors, the parents of girls in Girl Scout troops, and the parents of those girls who participate in the project activities. Summative evaluation will focus on the comparison of SMET course-taking patterns and course grades of participants in the project activities compared to a matched sample of girls who did not participate.