Why Why would we want to increase

Why • Why would we want to increase female participation? • Improve products • Build the pipeline - innovation • Economic Support

Alphabet blocks Adeline D. T. Whitney 1882 Apgar tests, which evaluate a baby’s health upon birth Virginia Apgar 1952 Chocolate-chip cookies Ruth Wakefield 1930 Circular saw Tabitha Babbitt 1812 Dishwasher Josephine Cochran 1872 Disposable diaper Marion Donovan 1950 Electric hot water heater Ida Forbes 1917 Engine muffler El Dorado Jones 1917 Fire escape Anna Connelly 1887 Ironing board Sarah Boone 1892 Globes Ellen Fitz 1875 Life raft Maria Beaseley 1882 Liquid Paper®, a quick-drying liquid used to correct mistakes printed on paper Bessie Nesmith 1951 Medical syringe Letitia Geer 1899 Rolling pin Catherine Deiner 1891 Scotchgard™ fabric protector Patsy O. Sherman 1956 Snugli® baby carrier Ann Moore 1965 Street-cleaning machine Florence Parpart 1900 Windshield wiper Mary Anderson 1903 3

Why aren’t more girls choosing engineering? Here are some of the “theories: ” • girls aren’t interested • they can’t do math and science as well as boys • they are opting out of careers that utilize ‘hard science’ What if I told you it’s because …. they don’t know what engineering is?

Examples Engineers sit in a cubicle all day long You have to be an excellent math and science student It’s predominately a male field Nerd perception: pocket protectors, glasses with tape, antisocial Engineers like to get dirty 5

o TV and society portrays engineering as a male field • Dexter’s Laboratory Nerd perception • Bill Nye the Science Guy • Beakman’s World • Design Squad More Gender Friendly • Dragon. Fly TV o o Majority of girls assessed did not know the scope of what engineers do Many don’t choose careers in math-intensive fields because they want flexibility to raise children. (R&D Magazine (3/2009) Ø o Women tend to prefer other fields of science that are less math-intensive (R&D Magazine (3/2009) Ø Ø e. Week Careers blog (3/4/09)- Many high-tech companies seeking skill sets of women who have left high paying careers to focus on raising families. Implementation of “job-reentry programs” (Girls are outperforming boys in math scores- NCLB data) Not encouraged by parents 6

Is Enjoyable “How happy I will be—what’s the point of doing something you don’t like? ” Provides a Good Working Environment “If I can’t interact with people…I will probably quit the job. ” Will Allow Me to Make a Difference “That I would make a difference in some way, you know, make my mark on the world. ” o Earns a Good Income “As shallow as it sounds, money is the one thing I have to consider when I’m choosing a job. I’m not going to do something that I know can’t help me pay bills. ” o Has Flexible Schedules “My career can’t consume all of my time…I need free time to do a lot of other things…before I die. ” 8

Change the message 9

To watch, click here. Source: Engineeryourlife. org 10

Before After

TRADITIONAL METHOD Identification of students with capacity and aptitude to excel in engineering Key Decision Making Times For Future Studies UPDATED METHOD Introduce Engineering to a Wider Audience At Younger Ages ØElementary Ø 7 th & 8 th graders ØLate 11 th, early 12 th From National Academy of Engineering 12

Encouraging Girls/Women into Nontraditional Career Pathways* Conduct targeted recruitment activities for girls and women Inform parents at the same time Signals that they are welcome and wanted in the program It helps to showcase the engineering coursework *Research supported strategy (Sheets, Lufkin, Stevens, 2003) 13

Welcome to the “Focus Your Future” Reception

The reception idea… þ Supported by the National Science Foundation “Engineering Equity Extension Service” project þ Interview/visitations of schools with 30 to 50 % female enrollment þ Determine ideas that could be replicated þ Used current research on effective practices þ Built a “reception in a bag” to make it as easy as possible for busy teachers þ Reception vs. open house 15

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Planning Team Reasons for Event ØStudents ØSupportive Faculty ØSchool Counselor Reception ØParent ØBusiness Representative Develop budget Determine Agenda

Agenda Creation Time Activity 6: 30 -7: 15 Registration, Exhibit, Refreshments 7: 15 -7: 20 Welcome & Introductions 7: 20 -7: 35 Power. Point Presentation 7: 35 -8: 00 Speaker or Panel Presentation 8: 00 -8: 15 Activity for Students & Parents 8: 15 -8: 20 PLTW Course Registration 8: 20 -8: 30 Questions & Answers 8: 30 -8: 35 Evaluation Completion 18

Tips to Secure Speakers þ Work with partnership team or industry contacts to obtain referrals þ Former or current PLTW girls þ Local female engineers (SWE) þ College faculty þ Know what your speakers are going to say – prepare them on “messaging” 19

Activity Selection þ Engineering is fun þ Determine Teams for Activity þ Activity Goal: Brainstorming, Problem Solving , Teaming þ Wrap Up • I learned… • My favorite part was… • My plan is to… 20

Identifying Girls to Attend… þ Ask Adults who have influence § Coaches § Favorite Teachers § Counselors § Club/Organization Sponsors § Youth Pastors Bring a Friend! þ Seek out female leaders of school social groups þ Art, Music, & Drama Teachers – creativity, spatial skills 21

Invitations þ Templates available for invitation in packet þ Size þ Recommended to Attend þ Bring a Friend þ RSVP

þ Design Sports Equipment þ Design Musical Instruments þ Imagine New Products þ Design Theme Parks and Rides þ Save Lives þ þ þ Enter Medical School Become Lawyers Become Presidents Become CEO’s Make a Difference Change the World 23

Judy Lee To watch, click here. Source: Engineeryourlife. org 24

v How to Solve problems v How to Listen to v Write Technical information v Cope with failures and try again v others How to work in v Improve previous v How to conduct v Manage Time to Teams Research v How to Analyze information v How to Speak in front of a group work meet deadlines Have Fun!!!

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Go to CBS News 6 video. 1. Click on the link above. 2. Login as a Guest. 3. Scroll down to Diversity Initiatives. 4. Select Recruiting. 5. Choose News Channel 6 PLTW report 2. 27

Can you think of a college major or a career where these attributes would NOT be valuable? PLTW classes can benefit almost every student! 28

Other Recruitment Ideas þShow EYL video clips on school wide video and news channel þStudents present at feeder school faculty meeting þSet up display in cafeteria þProvide opportunities for HS students to go to Middle School and Elementary grades to promote STEM education with demonstrations and activities þHave students present at a PTA meeting

For Questions & Comments To download FYF packet go to the PLTW Virtual Academy Sign on as a guest Scroll down to “Diversity Initiatives” Select “Recruiting” Project Lead the Way (www. pltw. org) • Carolyn Helm (Carolyn. helm@sreb. org) • Diana Jensen-Dooling (ddooling@monroe 2 boces. org)