the florida girls collaborative project: increasing gender equity in stem
TRANSCRIPT
The Florida Girls Collaborative Project: Increasing Gender
Equity in STEM
Why STEM?
• Our nation’s future hinges on our ability to prepare our next generation to be innovators in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Yet far too few of our students are prepared for the challenges ahead, and other countries are leaving us in their wake.
-Change the Equation• “It is time to restore science to its rightful
place, and …to wield technology’s wonders to meet the demands of a new age.” –President Obama
Why Florida?
• In 2010, Florida’s population broke the 20 million mark, making it the third most populous state in the country.
• In 2011, the baby boom cohort will begin entry to retirement.
• FL ranks 4th for number of high tech workers.• High tech workers earn more than double
the average of other employees.• FL scores below the national average on
a number of success and education indicators.
Why Florida?
• In 2006, Florida’s high school graduation rate was 58%
• Only 34% of Florida high school graduates were ready for college math
• 20% of Florida high school graduates were adequately prepared for college science courses
• 30% of 8th graders in Florida scored below basic on math performance on the NAEP• Only 29% scored proficient or above
National Girls Collaborative Project
The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) brings together organizations that are committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
www.ngcproject.org
Current Regional Collaboratives
Connecticut
Florida
Great Lakes (IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
Kentucky
Maine
Mid-Atlantic
(DC, DE,MD, VA)
Midwest (IL, KS, MO)
New Hampshire/ Vermont
North Carolina
Pacific Northwest
(AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, WA)
Pennsylvania
Southern New England (MA, RI)
Texas
Tennessee
http://ngcproject.org/map_regions.html
Project Goals
1. Maximize access to shared resources within projects and with public and private sector organizations and institutions interested in expanding girls’ participation in STEM.
2. Strengthen capacity of existing and evolving projects by sharing promising practice research and program models, outcomes and products.
3. Use the leverage of a network or collaboration of individual girl-serving STEM programs to create the tipping point for gender equity in STEM.
NGCP Components
• Collaborative Events Conferences, Forums, and
Webcasts• Program Directory• Project Web site• E- Newsletter• Incentives to collaborate
Mini-Grant funds• National and Regional Champions Boards
NGCP Impact• 11,469,883 visits to the NGCP Web site in 4
years• 2064 programs are listed in the online NGCP
Program Directory• 17,058 participants served in 126 mini-grants
completing activities• 9,119 practitioners have been served through
events and Webcasts• 4,865,557 girls are served indirectly by NGCP by
having their leaders trained in the philosophy, knowledge, and methods of NGCP.
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Why Collaborate?
• There are uncoordinated services to girls interested in STEM careers. Collaboration allows for creation of a higher quality, more integrated product for end users.
• Collaboration reduces isolation among STEM professionals.
• Collaborative relationships increase access to scarce resources.
Why Collaborate?
• Collaboration increases capacity to provide more opportunities to girls and women in STEM.
• Collaboration strengthens relationships among organizations. It also increases the potential for organizational and individual learning by sharing promising practices.
• Organizations have a better ability to achieve important outcomes.
Collaboration in Action- She’s a Scientist!
Best Practices in Successful Collaboration
• Prepare
• Look
• Plan
Best Practices in Successful Collaboration
PREPARE•Reflect on past collaborations and the characteristics of successful or ineffective collaborations.
•Create a quick summary of your program services you can easily share when you first meet potential collaborators.
Best Practices in Successful Collaboration
PREPARE•Identify your program/institutional strengths and challenges.
•Identify the program/institutional resources you have to offer.
•Identify your program/institutional needs.
Best Practices in Successful Collaboration
LOOK•Find the “home” of your audience who can benefit from your research findings/program products and services.
•Identify assistance or guides that can help you.
Best Practices in Successful Collaboration
PLAN•Be flexible and patient.
•Allow for organizational diversity.
Best Practices in Successful Collaboration
PLAN•Create a positive relationship based on mutual trust.
•Create a collaboration agreement or action plan.
•Debrief the collaboration.
NGCP Resources Collaboration Guide
http://www.ngcproject.org/resources/replication.cfm
Program Directorywww.ngcproject.org/directory
Mini-Grant Schedulehttp://ngcproject.org/mini-grant/schedule.cfm
Archived Webcastshttp://www.ngcproject.org/resources/webcastarchive.cfm
Join the NGCP listservwww.ngcproject.org/resources/newsletter.html
NGCP Contact Information
Amy Foster, National Program [email protected]
Shari Money, Florida Collaborative Lead