washington first robotics girls first initiative
DESCRIPTION
The FIRST Girls Initiative is a new program that encompasses data collection, a matrix, and recruitment efforts to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) among young girls in Washington state. The goal of this project is to expose and recruit more female students to Washington FIRST Robotics programs and to overall bridge the gender gap in the STEM workforce.TRANSCRIPT
GIRLS
Washington Robotics The sport of science, technology, and teamwork.
INSPIRING YOUNG WOMEN TO BE
TOMORROW’S LEADERS
INITIATIVE
Page 2
INSPIRING YOUNG WOMEN
TO BE TOMORROW’S LEADERS
About Us Washington FIRST Robotics inspires young individuals to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting, mentor-based, and competitive robotics programs. Through participation in FIRST, students develop well-rounded life capabilities, including self-confidence, communication skills and leadership.
Girls FIRST Initiative Mission The science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce is essential to America’s growing economy. According to a 2013 Boston Consulting Group report, local companies will experience 50,000 vacancies by 2017, 90% of which are in STEM and health care fields. Filling these positions will require a STEM educated workforce statewide. Yet, despite the growing opportunities for STEM employees, women today make up only 28% of tenure track faculty in STEM fields.
Through Washington FIRST Robotics, we have the opportunity to engage female students in STEM at an early age. With less than 20% of women acquiring computer science and engineering degrees, Washington FIRST Robotics is dedicated to increasing STEM interest and bridging the gender gap in the future workforce.
With the generous support of Intellectual Ventures, we have launched the Girls FIRST Initiative. This initiative encompasses a matrix, data points, and recruitment efforts to spark interest in STEM among girls and women within Washington State. Join us in our efforts to diversify the STEM workforce and to empower young women and men of all backgrounds across the globe!
Girls Initiative
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WHY GIRLS?
WHY STEM?
...Because Industry Needs Women
“Women currently make up 58% of the United States workforce. Though women are the majority of our country’s
workforce, they are poorly represented in STEM fields.”
- Women’s Collaborative Project
Our vision is to promote interest in STEM through
robotics programs with the goal of girls pursuing
STEM careers!
Girl Scouts of America, The Girls Collaborative Project, The State of Girls and Women in STEM,
2013.
45.9% of Chemists and Material Scientists are Women.
28.9% of Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists are
Women.
22.3% of Chemical Engineers are Women.
17.8% of Industrial Engineers are Women.
13.1% of Civil Engineers are Women.
8.8% of Electrical and Electronic Engineers are Women.
5.5% of Mechanical Engineers are Women.
THE STATISTICS
Girls Initiative
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WHY GIRLS? WHY STEM? (cont.)
...Because Stereotypes are Obstacles
Humans from every gender, culture, and ethnicity have stereotypes that affect their perception of their individual success. It is the stereotype that women cannot succeed in math and science that overshadows the female perception.
How much do gender stereotypes play into the human’s perception on their STEM ability? Research from The American Association of University Women (AAUW) suggests that elementary school children consciously believe in the truth of stereotypes. In a 2006 survey conducted by AAUW, 38% of boys agreed with the statement, “the smartest girls in my school are not popular,” and 17% of girls and 14% of boys thought it was true that “teachers think it is not important for girls to be good at math.” These subconscious beliefs may be more powerful than held beliefs because we are
not aware of them.
However, research shows that human beings can succeed beyond stereotypes. Psychologist Janet Hyde of the University of Wisconsin published a report in 2008 of standardized test scores taken in 2005-2007 by nearly 7 million students in 10 states. The researchers found that math and science scores of boys and girls were split 50/50, suggesting that there is "no gender difference" in scores among children in 2nd through 11th grade.
Overall, gender does not determine success in STEM fields. Every human being is born with equal STEM capabilities. It is important to begin STEM interest at an early age so female and male students are not discouraged. The overall goal of the Girls FIRST Initiative is to overcome gender stereotypes and to tell both boys and girls that they are equally capable of success!
Girls Initiative
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OUR RESEARCH
Washington FIRST Robotics conducted online surveys and mini-focus discussions
across all four programs with girls, boys and mentors participating. The findings
compliment years of national studies.
50 % of Junior FIRST Lego League and
FIRST Lego League team members
are girls.
35 % of FIRST Tech Challenge team
members are girls.
28 % of FIRST Robotics Competition
team members are girls.
Our research shows that both girls and boys
show equal interest in FIRST programs in ele-
mentary school. However, female interest
declines as children enter middle and high
school. The goal of the Girls FIRST Initiative is
to maintain girl’s interest in STEM as they age.
Girls Initiative
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1-2-3 LET’S GO!
Make the FIRST
game experiences
more relevant and
connected to
real-world
problems.
According to a 2012 survey conducted by
the Girl Scouts of America, over 94% of
participating girls reported that they
wanted to pursue a career path on which
they can serve their community. About
65% of Girl Scouts interested in STEM
fields desired a STEM career path related
to health and social science. In order to
maintain and promote female interest,
FIRST must be dedicated to the creation of
an environment that is relevant to
outside world issues.
Develop and provide
mentor training for
adults and students.
The report also noted that 47% of
participating girls would feel
uncomfortable if placed in a classroom in
which they are the only female student.
By training mentors and recruiting
additional female mentors, Washington
FIRST Robotics can minimize the fine line
between intimidation and success for
girls, and inspire career connections.
Define heroes and target
girls whose parents do not
have a STEM background
71% of Girl Scouts reported
that their parents have a
STEM career that have
encouraged them to pursue
STEM-related interests. It is
more difficult for girls whose
parents do not have STEM
backgrounds to discover their
love for STEM. Washington
FIRST Robotics must
encourage these girls by
defining heroes that can help
them find their potential
passion for math and science.
2
Generation STEM, Girl Scouts of America, 2013.
Girls Initiative
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CALL TO ACTION!
Washington FIRST Robotics is in the field,
recruiting, training, and supporting female
mentors and girls to join FIRST teams in
Washington State. We aspire to empower
young women and to make a difference in the
FIRST community! Join us today by investing,
mentoring and volunteering with us!
For more information on the Girls
FIRST Initiative and how you can get
involved, please contact:
Hilary Waite at [email protected]
Erin McCallum at [email protected]
Girls Initiative
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“Every year I'm amazed by the
students who get engaged in FIRST.
The most successful years for Franklin
High School team #488 Xbot is when
the team is lead by female co-captains.
Get involved, see how cool science,
math, robotics and FIRST can be.
GIRLS rule!”
“There is no doubt in my mind that a
strong STEM workforce is crucial to
ensuring innovation in today’s
technology driven world. Women
have had some great impact on areas
of STEM, and by encouraging girls to
pursue these areas in education, we
are paving the way to a brighter
future. When we’ve finally overcome gender barriers in STEM, we will have
unlocked half of the world’s inventive
brainpower.”
“Imagine what fantastic ideas and
innovations are waiting to be
discovered and invented by girls!
When we dare to branch out of
the girly stereotype, anything is
possible and the sky is the limit!”
WOMEN STEM LEADERS OF
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Kimberly Hicks Systems Engineer,
The Boeing Company
Adriane Brown President and COO
Intellectual Ventures
Donna Lew Mentor, Franklin High School Team #488 Xbot
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Amy Myers Walla Walla FIRST Lego League,
Girl Scouts
Amy has earned a B.A. in biology and chemistry
from Whitman College and a MPH (health
education focus) from the University of
Washington. Amy loves FIRST Lego League and
has witnessed firsthand the benefits of the program while working as a mentor for a group
of fifth grade girls from a high-poverty elementary
school.
Chelsea Olson Electrical Engineer, The Boeing Company
Mentor, FIRST Robotics Competition
Chelsea recently graduated from the
University of Washington with a B.S. in
Electrical Engineering and is currently seeking
her M.A. in Engineering. She got involved as a
mentor for FIRST Robotics Competition team 2046 Bear Metal in 2012 and has been a
significant member of the FIRST volunteer
community ever since.
GIRLS FIRST COMMITTEE
Jennifer Mortensen Corporate Communications Marketing,
Intellectual Ventures
After receiving a B.A. in English and a minor in
environmental studies from the University of
Puget Sound in Tacoma, Jennifer worked in
science and tech communications at a leading
magazine publisher and at an infectious disease
research institute. In 2012 she joined the
corporate communications team at Intellectual
Ventures, where she helps recruit mentors for
FIRST teams.
Girls Initiative
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Sarah Powazek Issaquah High School
Sarah is a student at Issaquah High School and
is a member of FIRST Robotics Competition
team 1318 Issaquah Robotics Society (IRS). On
her team, she analyzes, designs, and drives the
robot. She looks forward to working on the
advisory board to help recruit more girls to
FIRST and STEM !
Jennifer came onto FIRST Robotics as a freshman
on the FIRST Tech Challenge rookie team 4590.
She has been involved in the growth and
development of FIRST programs in her community.
She has been a leader, mentor, and friend to many
people through her experiences in robotics. She
will pursue a degree in robotics and embedded
systems at the University of Advancing
Technology in September 2014!
As a teacher for over 20 years Kat has taught
many subjects at a variety of levels, but science
has always been her first love. The FIRST Robotics
programs are a hobby, which allow Kat to share
her love of learning and science with kids.
Kat Stebbins FIRST Robotics Team Coordinator,
Moses Lake, WA
Jennifer Taflin Kings High School
GIRLS FIRST COMMITEE (cont.)
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Work Cited
Girl Scouts of America. "Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math." Generation STEM - Full Report.
"Girls = Boys at Math." Science/AAAS. ScienceMag.Org. Web. 30 May 2014.
"Jobs within Our Reach: Solving the Problem of Washington State's Growing Job Skills Gap." Boston
Consulting Group.
"Statistics: State of Girls and Women in STEM." National Girls Collaborative Project |. National Girls
Collaborative Project.
"Why so Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math." AAUW: Empowering Women
Since 1881.
Cassidy Barnes Franklin High School
Cassidy is a student who does community
outreach for the FIRST Robotics Competition
team #488 Xbot at Franklin High School. In
her spare time, she participates in choir and
drama!
GIRLS FIRST COMMITTEE (cont.)
Lisa has been an administrator in Spokane
Public Schools for the past 21 years. She is the
Director of Career and Technical Education
and has been in this position for the past 11
years. Lisa has catalyzed an opportunity for all
students ( K-12) in Spokane Public Schools to
participate in engineering and computer Science
through Junior FIRST Lego League and FIRST
Lego League, and FIRST Tech Challenge over
the next three years. Lisa is an alumna of
Gonzaga University and has a Master’s Degree
in Educational Administration.
Lisa White Director of Instructional Programs,
Spokane Public Schools
Girls Initiative
Washington FIRST Robotics
21238 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
www.firstwa.org
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