How do we engage more females in technology and engineering?  I am Pamela Silvers and for the past 5 years it has been not only my passion but also my job.  After you watch the video I would love to have a discussion on methods of engagement.  Pam

It sounds like your project has been successful in cultivating interest of young women in technology and engineering careers.  I was delighted to learn that you pay special attention to first generation college students and provide role models, as well as other opportunities, to expand their knowledge about different career paths.

Have you noticed particular strategies that are more or less effective in engaging certain types of students (e.g., high school, community college, women, first generation college-goers, etc.).  Are you measuring, or thinking of measuring, the impact of strategies beyond enrollment?  For instance, I was wondering if having role models for matriculated female students helps sustain their interest and commitment?   

We have found the personal connection works well - going to student events and reaching out makes a difference.  Our grant also focuses on retention - and we offer a Focus on the Classroom for instructors as well as having a Women in Technology student group.

Hi Pamela--

Your work inspires me! Your emphasis on role modeling definitely mirrors ours at Twin Cities PBS, where we produce SciGirls. SciGirls is a multi-platform project that includes a national PBS series, multiple websites, educational outreach and professional development workshops for educators. Our goal is to empower and encourage girls, as well as their educators and families, around STEM learning and career paths. All of our content is built on research-based strategies around engaging girls in STEM. These strategies (currently called The SciGirls Seven, but a new iteration will be released called The SciGirls Strategies) are available on our SciGirls CONNECT website at www.scigirlsconnect.org. We have a specific workshop to help STEM professionals provide gender equitable and culturally responsive role modeling for youth you might like to check out. 

In addition to sharing our resources, I have a quick question: are you doing (or do you plan) to incorporate near-peer role models into your programming? We have started to do so, and are having some promising results. Again, wonderful work!

Hi Pam and visitors,

Pam, you ask about methods of engagement. I agree with Kristin that you may find a lot of great ideas for engaging your target audience from SciGirls CONNECT. In the video here, you mention some of the ways you have tried to engage already - being sure to include a wide diversity of participant and lots of female role models for instructors, networking clubs, relatable images in your marketing materials, etc. but that one challenge continues to be attracting women to jobs they don't even know about or cannot imagine. Do you interview your participants about what is working for them and what aspects of the program they like best or appreciate the most? If so, what do they tell you? Looking forward to learning more.

We have found that focusing on "what you will do" not "what you will learn" has been effective.  We created Make a Difference program sheets that focus on helping others and solving problems.  These have been effective.  We have only done informal feedback with students who feel the marketing is effective.  The other proof is in the numbers - we increased female enrollment

Thank you for your work- I am also a passionate advocate for career education for STEM students. We teach them how to learn science, but  not how to get a job. I started by developing intenrship opportunities for my biology students, but have seen that this is great but there is another missing piece of the puzzle. And that is what you are addressing- what are the career options out there? What are jobs that use a science degree, and not just the ones on TV or in the movies.  

I just developed and taught for the first time a Careers in STEM course. As part of the course students do self-inventories, career exploration, networking, informationla interviews.  Any resources or suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated

Abigail Zoger

Santa Rosa Junior College

My area is focused on Computer Technologies but I am sure we have ideas we could share