Building the Capacity of STEM Practitioners to Develop a Diverse Workforce  

In This Issue

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NGCP Updates

 Collaborative Network Activities

NGCP Informational Meetings

Program managers, guidance counselors, business partners, educators, and representatives from professional organizations and higher education are invited to learn how the NGCP model can help your organization and to network with colleagues for collaboration opportunities.

Michigan GCP: Community Collaboration Forum
Flint, MI; December 13, 2013; 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM This forum offers the chance for schools and organizations committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue classes and careers in STEM to come together to share best practices, develop new collaborations, and learn about new resources. At this conference we will share information about existing projects, demonstrate hands-on activities, and provide opportunities to collaborate with other organizations.

TxGCP - Role Models Matter: Engaging Girls (and All Youth) in STEM

Edinburg, TX; December 14, 2013; 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 

Research shows that girls who interact with female role models are more likely to develop and maintain an interest in STEM. Bringing STEM to life is an important step in getting students interested in STEM careers and excited about their futures. Participants will learn about the "Recipe for Role Model Success" and resources to engage STEM role models in the classroom and beyond.

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, and frequently asked questions are available online. Open and closing dates are listed below and more information is available on each Collaborative website.

• Arizona Science, Technology, and Engineering Collaborative (ASTEC) Project for Girls: 11/04/2013-12/27/2013.
• Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative Project: 1/07/2014-1/30/2014.
• Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative (MAGiC) (DC, DE, MD, VA): 10/15/2013-1/17/2014.

This month we feature Suzi Taylor, Assistant Director for Outreach and Communications with Montana State University's Extended University. She has been a co-leader of the Montana Girls STEM Collaborative since its inception in 2012. She was nominated for this spotlight because "[she] is a great team member and leader for the Montana Girls STEM Collaborative (MGSC). She brings positive energy and enthusiasm to all she does and is an incredibly hard worker. Her marketing skills and creativity are put to good use by MGSC in engaging new audiences and groups. Plus she has mad typing skills and is just fun to be around!"

What excites you most about the work you do every day? I'm fortunate to work in university outreach, so education is at the core of everything we do. Each day I try to connect people who need something with those who can help.

What drew you to participate in the Montana Girls STEM Collaborative Project in a leadership capacity? I grew up in a town of 1,200 people. My high school had 87 kids. While I loved that life, I want to do everything I can to make sure girls in rural communities know what opportunities are out there for them.

Which NGCP resources do you find most valuable? The network of interconnected people--we are like the "connectors" from Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point!" When we needed help with a grant, our national contacts pointed us to colleagues in Maine, who were able to share their past experiences with us. I also love the program directory, which forces you to inventory what you need and what you have to offer.

How has being involved in NGCP impacted your work? The power of this network inspires me to build similar capacity and support in every group I'm part of. Also, I'm the mom of a 13-year-old daughter, so I feel like I know much more about how to support her.

Who are your role models? My co-leaders, Martha Peters and Holly Truitt, and other members of our leadership team and champions board work tirelessly for our state even though we have so few resources. I've met some amazing partners and collaborators through this network. They inspire me to keep giving my all!

FabFems Spotlight

The FabFems Spotlight highlights women from the FabFems Role Model Directory. FabFems are enthusiastic about the science and technology work they do and want to inspire a future generation of FabFems.

We can all be role models and benefit from role models at all stages of our lives. We are especially excited to have more college students recognizing the power they have as role models and joining our directory!

Computer Science Education Week

Nationwide; December 9-15, 2013

Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of computing, the richness of computing careers, and the critical need for computer science (CS) education. CSEdWeek is a call to action to inspire students and colleagues about CS education, to employ new and better strategies for engagement, and to connect with the broader community about the need for and value of CS education. See computer science resources below. 

Engaging Students in Energy Webinar 
Online; December 13, 2013; 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST
This webinar is for educators, administrators, and others interested in learning more about the Department of Energy's and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) efforts in increasing opportunities for colleges, universities and their students in energy.

American Association of Physics Teachers

Orlando, FL; January 4-7, 2014

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in physics workshops, meet other physics educators, form networks nationally and locally, engage exhibitors, and learn about the latest physics resources. Workshops include Activities for Engaging Girls in Physical Science, Teaching Science with LEGO Mindstorms, and Selling Physics as a Major.

Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE) International Meeting

San Antonio, TX; January 12-18, 2014

ASTE is dedicated to continuing the professional growth and development of individuals who work in or have a strong interest in issues related to science teacher education at all grade levels. At this year's meeting participants will attend a wide-range of professional development workshops.

Annual Conference of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE)

Irvine, CA; February 6-8, 2014

This year's conference features thought-provoking session, and opportunities to network and collaborate with other mathematics teacher educators. Featured speakers are Beatriz S. D'Ambrosio, Professor of Mathematics Education at Miami University (OH) and Barbara Reys, Curator's Professor and the Lois Knowles Faculty Fellow in Mathematics Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

National Conference of Girls' Education (NCGE)

Philadelphia, PA; February 7-9, 2014

NCGE is a forum for the exchange of transformational educational practice, the sharing of resources for working with girls, and a bridging of best practices from all sectors of girls' education.

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting
Chicago, IL; February 13-17, 2014
The AAAS Annual Meeting features Family Science Days, lectures that explore a diverse range of recent developments in science and technology, and plenary speakers such as Susan Lindquist, Professor of Biology at MIT and Steven Chu, Professor of Physics and Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University.

New York, NY; February 28-March 3, 2014

The NAA is dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours. At this year's convention participants will have the opportunity to successes in afterschool and summer programs; and connect with leaders and experts.

Resources

How Do You Introduce Computing in an Engaging Way?   

This National Center for Women and Information Technology resource explores ways to engage students not already drawn to computing by creating academic and social environments where these students feel like they belong.

The Hour of Code

CODE2040 Summer Fellowship Program Applications Now Open

CODE2040 is a non-profit organization that creates pathways to educational, professional, and entrepreneurial success in technology for underrepresented minorities with a specific focus on Blacks and Latinos. The CODE2040 summer Fellowship Program places high performing Black and Latino/a software engineering students in internships with top tech companies and provides mentorship, leadership training, and network development. Deadline: February 9, 2014.

Maker Corps 2014 Host Sites Applications

The Maker Education Initiative is now accepting applications for Maker Corps 2014 Host Sites. Youth serving organizations dedicated to building their capacity to inspire young makers during the summer of 2014 are encouraged to apply. Deadline: December 11, 2013.

Moody's Mega Math Challenge 

Moody's Mega Math (M3) Challenge is an Internet-based, applied math competition for high school students. The contest is free and open to high school juniors and seniors in 46 US states. Scholarships totaling $125,000 toward the pursuit of higher education are awarded to the top teams. The Challenge weekend is set for March 8 and 9, 2014. Registration is now open.

New evaluation-focused website for STEM programs

BeyondRigor.org focuses on helping STEM programs more accurately collect and analyze data for diverse populations. This website provides easy to use tips to make data collection more inclusive, the data collected more accurate and responsive to program goals and needs, and the analysis of data more rigorous. BeyondRigor.org also provides information to help evaluators better understand the role of context and some contextual factors that are important to consider when evaluating STEM programs.

NGCP Program Directory - Search for Collaborating Programs or Register Your Program