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Building the Capacity of STEM Practitioners to Develop a Diverse Workforce
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NGCP Updates
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NGCP Webinar: Mission Solar System: Engaging Girls in Engineering and Space Careers
June 12, 2013; 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific
Design Squad Nation (DSN) is funded by the National Science Foundation and is a multimedia program whose goal is to inspire the next generation of engineers. DSN's latest guide, Mission: Solar System, includes new hands-on activities and video resources to engage students. In this interactive webinar, learn how to use the free educational resources to bolster your efforts to get girls excited about engineering and careers in space exploration.
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 Collaborative Network Activities
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Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative Annual Conference
Richmond, KY
June 7, 2013; 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Panel and session speakers include Dr. Suzanne Smith, Director of NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and the EPSCoR Program at the University of Kentucky; Kristy Fehr, Kentucky's Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher 2012; Cynthia Warner, Kentucky Education Television; Dr. Kristen Brennan, Alltech; Lisa Holland, "STEM Sparks", Tates Creek Middle School; and Dr. Tanea Reed, Department of Chemistry, EKU.
Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/kentucky-girls-stem-collaborative-annual-conference
Missouri Girls Collaborative STEM Professional Development Forum: Engaging Underrepresented Girls in STEM
Osage Beach, MO
June 18, 2013; 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
This interactive training, held as a pre-conference session to the Missouri Association for Adult, Community, and Continuing Education Conference, will explore strategies for engaging underrepresented girls in afterschool STEM activities. The discussion and hands-on activities will focus on equity strategies and will provide techniques to implement in your program.
Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/professional-development-forum-engaging-underrepresented-girls-stem
PA STEM Girls Collaborative Project Role Models Matter Forum
The Role Models Matter Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a collaborative effort between Techbridge, Society of Women Engineers, NGCP, and Girl Scout councils to bring resources to role models and organizations. The goal of the project is to increase girls' interest in STEM by creating resources to train STEM professionals to interact with girls in meaningful ways. The forum will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn how to increase and improve the quality of their outreach to girls.
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Ephrata, PA: June 25, 2013; 9:00AM - 3:00PM
Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/pa-stem-girls-collaborative-project-collaboration-forum-ephrata-public-library
Ephrata, PA: June 26, 2013; 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Register: http://www.ngcproject.org/pa-stem-girls-collaborative-project-role-models-matter-ephrata-public-library-forum
NGCP Collaborative Mini-Grants
NGCP mini-grants are designed to enhance access to and build collaboration between programs and resources. Mini-grant application resources, including a sample application, exemplary practices, project ideas, evaluation requirements, frequently asked questions and glossary are available online at: http://www.ngcproject.org/mini-grants. Grant opportunities are available in the following Collaboratives:
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| Champions for Collaboration | |
NGCP Champions Board members are selected to give the NGCP a balance of desirable expertise and regional representation, including industry representatives, informal learning educators, gender equity experts, science and mathematics education representatives, and educational policy experts. We are highlighting Champions Board members each month to inspire and inform your work to engage girls in STEM. This month we feature Donna Mundy. Donna is a consultant currently working with the Institute for Educational Leadership and The Able Trust on transition programs for youth with disabilities (High School/High Tech and RAMP).
What excites you most about your work? Perhaps the most rewarding is meeting students with disabilities and experiencing their enthusiasm and excitement from first time site visits to high tech companies, technical college tours, and STEM career-related summer internships. Many students with disabilities have limited exposure to these opportunities. Recently, we spoke to the mother of a hearing impaired student who is an alumni of a Florida High School/High Tech program (a STEM focused transition project for students with disabilities). She was thrilled that he had graduated from a university and had been selected for a second interview for an Engineering position. The main reason was due to his summer internship experience at Kennedy Space Center/NASA. This young man once told me: "With HS/HT I do a lot of things I never thought I would do". This is a great testimony to the value of programs like High School/High Tech and RAMP (Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program), a high-tech, career-focused mentoring program for youth involved with or at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile justice system.
What do you most appreciate in a collaborator? I enjoy working with people who are passionate and committed to their work. I have a note on my desk that says: Find something you love to do and call it WORK!
What advice would you give to the NGCP community? I would advise the NGCP community to increase their outreach to a diverse group of students, educators, organizations, and business leaders. Most programs flourish when public/private partnerships are educated and encouraged. Such collaborations, while taking time to develop successfully, will result in effective ongoing sustainability of the NGCP.
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| Collaboration in Action | | This feature - the Collaboration Spotlight - provides tips, resources, and highlights from successful collaborative projects.
June Tip: Create a Collaboration Agreement as you begin a project with a partner. Engaging in a conversation that identifies partner roles, expectations, and benefits for all partners can increase the effectiveness and success of your project. You can browse project descriptions in the NGCP mini-grant at: http://www.ngcproject.org/grants.
"The most effective aspect of our collaboration was the efficiency. We each were able to
focus on what we did best. They provided the students that they were already serving and
we delivered technical training that's our focus, all for the benefit of the kids."
-Mini-Grant Recipient
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Upcoming STEM Events
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World Oceans Day
June 8, 2013
World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans. This year, World Oceans Day is encouraging the community to come together to celebrate the ocean and strive to protect it for the 2013 theme "Together we Have the Power to Protect the Ocean." The website includes resources and information about how to get involved.
http://worldoceansday.org
U.S. News STEM Solutions National Conference
Austin, TX
June 17-19, 2013
The theme of the 2013 conference is "Teach. Inspire. Hire." and serves as a call-to-action. Participants will learn how to initiate the action necessary to improve STEM education and increase employment in STEM fields. STEM Solutions 2013 tracks include: Mission Central: Why K-12 STEM Education Must Change, On the Hunt: The Search for Skills and Talent, and An Untapped Resource: Underrepresented Populations.
Register: http://usnewsstemsolutions.com
Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) National Conference: Building An Inclusive Climate For Diverse Communities of Women in STEM
Atlanta, GA
June 19-22, 2013
The WEPAN conference provides a forum for women engineering leaders, corporate advocates, researchers, academic leaders, and government officers and provides practitioners access to current research, statistics, and best practices on women in engineering.
STEM Smart: Lessons Learned From Successful Schools
Atlanta, GA
June 23, 2013
This National Science Foundation hosted meeting will highlight findings in the National Research Council reports, with a special focus on engineering education, as described in the Next Generation Science Standards. It will include breakout sessions on funded projects, resources and initiatives that align with evidence of effective instruction, access to high quality STEM for all students, and building supportive infrastructure.
Register: http://successfulstemeducation.org/events/STEM-Smart-Atlanta-registration
The National Coalition of Girls' Schools (NCGS) Conference
Wellesley, MA
June 24-26, 2013
The NCGS 2013 Conference, Launching Future Leaders: Preparing Today's Girls to Shape Tomorrow's World will provide educators with strategies to develop girls with the confidence, skills, and convictions to become the next generation of female leaders.
Register: http://www.ncgs.org/NewsAndEvents/AnnualConference/2013/registration.aspx
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Conference
Quincy, MA
July 15-16, 2013
The CSTA conference will provide professional development opportunities for K-12 computer science and computer applications teachers who need practical, relevant information to help them prepare their students for the future.
Register: https://www.softconf.com/d/csta2013/cgi-bin/scmd.cgi?scmd=people&pageid=0
STEM Think Tank and Conference: Girl Meets STEM: Developing the Next Generation of Professionals
Nashville, TN
July 17-19, 2013
This conference offers K-12 teachers, university faculty and administration, informal educators, and members of industry an opportunity to make new connections and share best practices on creating successful programs for girls. Conference strands include: Best Practices in Curriculum & Teaching for Girls, STEM Leadership, Getting Started in STEM, Changing the Conversation, and Community Outreach.
Register: http://www.stemefg.org/index.php/think-tank-and-conference/registration
National Marine Educators Association Conference
Mobile, AL
July 22-26, 2013
Attendees will have the opportunity to make professional connections, share innovative ideas, and learn about new resources, tools and technologies for use in classrooms, laboratories, and education programs.
Register: http://nmea.disl.org/register.html
Techbridge Summer InstituteOakland, CAJuly 31- August 2, 2013The Techbridge summer institute focuses on the development of STEM educators and offers strategies and curriculum for engaging girls in science, technology, and engineering. Participants will have the opportunity to explore inquiry-based activities and learn how to recruit and engage girls in a STEM program, implement Techbridge's hands-on curriculum for grades 5-12, plan field trips and visits with role models, expand family outreach, and integrate career exploration into your program. Register: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5086720518?ref=ebtnebregn#
Serious Play Conference
Redmond, WA
August 19-22, 2013
Conference sessions will help educators identify the types of games and simulations that work best for students at the pre-school, K-12, and higher education levels and learn how to use Serious Games for messaging and professional development programs.
Register: http://www.seriousplayconference.com/attend/register
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FabFems Spotlight
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 This month we are excited to introduce one of our newest FabFems: Dana Riley Black, the Director of Education for the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, WA.
Dana is an educator whose interests include systemic science education reform, professional development for teachers and administrators, and strategies that enable the scientific community to engage with and support K-12 science education. She currently partners with  and supports school districts across the Puget Sound region in their efforts to implement research-based science education reform.
Dana has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Washington and a M.Ed. in Science Education and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Studies from Miami University. During her post-graduate appointment at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Dana developed physical science curriculum and televised professional development experiences for teachers of mathematics and science.
Dana is a mother of two school-age children and is a third generation Girl Scout Leader. She also coordinates the school's annual science fair. Dana and her 9-year-old daughter Carmen recently became a 2012 StoryCorps Medal winner. In their story, Dana tells her daughter about working with the Pacific Science Center's Science on Wheels Program. They talk about their shared love of science and how Dana is challenging conventional wisdom about science education. We invite you to listen to Dana and Carmen's inspiring story! Learn more about Dana by visiting her FabFems Profile.
To search profiles of other role models working in STEM education visit: http://www.fabfems.org
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| Resources | |
Black Girls Code: Bridging The Digital Divide
The Black Girls Code: Bridging The Digital Divide video features the type of work that the Black Girls Code is doing to introduce young girls of color into the fields of science and technology.
DeafTEC
 DeafTEC resources include: an online STEM ASL dictionary, strategies for addressing instructional challenges and access issues, and a project that enables deaf and hard of hearing students to earn college credit in STEM-related courses while they are still in high school.
http://deaftec.org/resources
Discovery Launches New, Free STEM Education Resources
This summer Discovery Communications will offer a new Discovery Education STEM Camp. STEM Camp is a series of standards-aligned curricula available at no cost to schools, districts, non-profit organizations, and parents for use as part of summer camps, after-school STEM programs or wherever support is needed.
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/STEM/connect-the-dots.cfm?CFID=2839437&CFTOKEN=49864261
Learn to Code with the Tynker Creative Computing Platform
Tynker is a new computing platform designed to teach children computational thinking and programming skills in a fun and imaginative way. The digital curriculum is a mix of learning and fun, and empowers kids to engage in learning activities, which include developing animations and mobile games, crafting music, creating e-books and fictional robots, and more. This cloud-hosted system is now available for free to teachers, schools, and districts.
http://www.tynker.com
Howtosmile.org
June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month and Howtosmile.org has a wide-range of learning activities, tools, and services designed for educators of school-aged children in non-classroom settings like zoos, aquaria, museums, and afterschool or outdoor education programs. This online collection of math and science activities include lesson plans, field trips, how-to videos, and online games. A topics section includes Ocean Literacy which can be used to create awareness about "World Oceans Day", celebrated on June 8, 2013.
http://www.howtosmile.org
 NASA 2013 Summer of Innovation Mini-Awards Program
The NASA Summer of Innovation Mini-Award Program is offering SoI Mini-Awards to school and community-based organizations with the desire to provide meaningful, educational, and STEM programs for students entering grades 4-9 who traditionally have been underserved or underrepresented in STEM fields. Winners will receive NASA STEM educational content for a camp or afterschool program, and up to $2,500 in funding. Application deadline is June 10, 2013.
Thinkersmith
Thinkersmith has developed curriculum geared toward girls and non-traditional students. The lessons highlight the creativity, passion, and self-expression in computational thinking and aim to take the intimidation out of computer science, through real-world activities.
http://www.thinkersmith.org
NGCP Program Directory - Find Summer Camps!
The online Program Directory lists organizations and programs that focus on motivating girls to pursue STEM careers. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources, and collaborate on STEM-related projects for girls. When you sign up for the Program Directory, you will enter your program description, resources available within your organization, program and/or organizational needs, and contact information. You can search by summer camp offerings in your zip code as well.
NGCP has created a publication entitled Build Your Collaborative Network with the NGCP Program Directory which provides an overview of the Program Directory as an effective collaboration tool to maximize impact for your program and/or organization.
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| Global Resources |
edGlobal: Sharing Education Ideas Around the World Community
This online collaborative community provides a forum for educators, administrators, government officials, and corporate executives from around the world to discuss various topics in global education, market trends, and opportunities for sharing international education information.
http://www.edweb.net/plc.html
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Contact Us
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The EdLab Group is a private, non-profit organization with funding from federal and state governments, private foundations, corporations, and individuals. Our mission is to leverage the power of technology and diversity to transform teaching and learning.
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