2015 AAUW Wisconsin State Convention: STEM & GEMS

AAUW STEM Efforts• Research

– Why So Few?– Solving the Equation

• STEM Task Force (AAUW National)– Strengthen state efforts

• surveys, cultivate/support state STEM chairs

– Recommendations for future AAUW STEM efforts– Build network, community, support

• Tech Trek • Tech Savvy• Local STEM Efforts

– Tech Savvy, UW-Oshkosh 18-Apr-2015– GEMS

• Wisconsin GEMS – a closer look

STEM Research

• 2010: Why So Few? – http://www.aauw.org/research/why-so-few/

• 2015: Solving the Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and Computing– http://www.aauw.org/research/solving-the-

equation/

Tech Trek

• Week-long hands on technical camp for middle school girls• Started in 1998 in CA by AAUW member Marie Wolbach

with an AAUW Action Grant• Hands-on problem solving + encounters with women role

models in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), Tech Trek = girls see their futures while having nonstop fun

• 10 States with 21 camps!– CA (10), OK (2), WA (2), AL, IA, OR, NM, FL, NJ, OH

• More information: – http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/stem-education/tech-trek/

Tech Savvy

• Day-long STEM career conference designed to get 6th-9th grade girls interested in STEM

• Started in 2006 by AAUW Buffalo then-branch president Tamara Brown

• Program for girls and program for parents• 15 states with 17 programs!– OH (2), PA, CT, KY, NE, ND, CA, UT, HI, VA, IL, MI, WI

• More information:– http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/stem-education/

tech-savvy/

Tech Savvy: University of Wisconsin-OshKosh 18-Apr-2015

• AAUW Contacts: Jeanne Tondryk & Stephanie Malaney• 120 girls, 80 parents• Fun keynote speaker who connected well with the girls• 30 workshop presenters and panelists

– represented current/future opportunities– reinforced the need for parental support

• 9 college / university recruiters• $20k+ from corporate sponsors, foundations, AAUW

members / branches (over $15k raised + $6k from National)

Tech Savvy: University of Wisconsin-OshKosh 18-Apr-2015

• From a mom who did not attend with her daughter:My daughter, Rachel, loved the program at UWO today!! She learned a lot and even made a new friend. She loved the workshops, visiting the college tables, etc... Thank you to everyone who had a hand in putting the program together today! I was a little nervous when I left Rachel (I stayed w/ her through breakfast.). She is kind of shy; she recognized a few people, but did not seem quite comfortable. When she came out at the end of the day, she was all smiles. She went into the program not sure how much she is interested in a STEM career; she was not sure that she wanted to go to college someday. So, I'm really glad that she went! It opened her mind up to the possibility of different careers, etc. Thanks again! She looks forward to attending next yr. Evelyn Z.

Tech Savvy: University of Wisconsin-OshKosh 18-Apr-2015

• From a dad who did attend with his daughter:I just wanted to thank you and all of the speakers, volunteers and everyone that made this possible. It was an amazing experience and my daughter really enjoyed it. We both learned a lot about STEM careers. The speakers were outstanding. Thanks again.

Sincerely, David G., President WatchCo.com (a local e-commerce and retail company that sells watches; David is a grad of UW Oshkosh)

WISCONSIN GEMS

In the beginning

• Fall of 2013– There was an idea– 35 middle school girls– Saturday morning

• Through collaboration and partnering– Grew to 100 middle school girls– Full day during regular school time– Keynote speaker and 6 workshops– Held at two year technical college

2014 GEMS Conference

• Held at iMET Center of Gateway Technical College

• 9:00 – 3:00 on May 13• Presenters mostly from Gateway• Key note speaker WTMJ TV Jessie Ritka• 96 middle school girls from 2 schools• Hands-on workshops such as Robotics, 3-D

printing, Forensics, Fresh Water

2014 GEMS Conference

• Girls assigned in groups - 50% from each school

• Girls engaged • Keynote speaker dynamic and straight forward• More focus on school and doing homework• Attended by many teachers and counselors• Some behavioral issues went away

Enhancements to 2014 GEMS

• Match skill of presenters to audience• Make better use of the lunch time experience• Move to 4 yr. degreed school• Increase the participation of number of

schools and girls• Provide more variety of workshops• Provide choices of workshops attended

2015 GEMS Conference

• 200 middle school girls mostly 7th and 8th grade

• From 4 schools of RUSD• Keynote speaker Dr. Summer Ostrowski• Held at UW-Parkside on April 1, 9:00 to 3:00• 16 workshops• Panel discussion/lunch• Parents’ Events

How did it happen?

• Passion and Alignment of Mission and Purpose• To provide young women with opportunities

to learn about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in careers

• To promote young women’s participation in STEM courses in high school and college

Networking

• Building relationships with people in the community

• Ask questions and listen• Determine passion for girls in STEM• Build a strategy• Determine resources and go after them• Funding, in-kind donations, presenters,

volunteers

Partners• Girls Inc.*• AAUW – Racine Branch*• UW-Parkside – College of Natural and Health

Sciences*• Racine Unified School District (RUSD)*• United Way • SC Johnson• Family Literacy of Racine*– * members on Steering Committee

Funding through Grants

• Girls Inc. wrote grants– SC Johnson– Educators Credit Union– United Way– Racine Foundation

• In-Kind donations– Gift cards– Products such as candy, pens, water bottles

Presenters

• Half from UW-Parkside – college professors and staff

• Half from AAUW-Racine and Racine Unified School District and Girls, Inc. - business

• Various careers in health sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, forensic, computer coding, mathematics and geology

Panel Discussion

• Three college women in STEM • One AAUW member in STEM profession• Gave overview of schooling and career• Q&A time• Opposite Lunch• One-half of girls attend at a time

Volunteers

• Given survival kits – tech support information, map of facilitates, schedule of the day’s events and workshops

• Introduced presenters• Assisted presenters as needed• Engaged girls• Monitored hall and lunch activities• End of day thank you and evaluations

Schedule• 9:05-9:10 Arrival and Check-In• 9:15-9:30 Welcome Chancellor Ford and Dean Out • 9:30-10:05 Keynote Speaker Summer A. Ostrowski, PhD• 10:15-11:00 Workshop A• 11:05-12:10 Lunch and Panel • 12:15-1:00 Workshop B• 1:10-1:55 Workshop C• 2:05-2:50 Workshop D• 2:55-3:10 Evaluations/Bag Handout• 3:10 Dismiss to buses

Steering Committee

• Met regularly, more frequently the closer to the conference date

• Agenda and notes of meetings including decisions made, to-do’s and next meeting

• Communication via e-mail – frequent • Each member/organization had specific areas

of responsibilities• Spirit of collaboration and can-do

Selection Process for Girls

• Recommended by teachers and social workers• Targeted those who would benefit• Not necessarily the “best” behaved• Targeted those who could engage• May have interest in STEM related studies and

career• May not have thought about STEM related

studies and career

2015 GEMS Timeline• Begin conference planning 10/2014• Meetings, monthly Ongoing• Submit funding requests 12/2014• Workshops/presenters confirmed 02/2015• All funding confirmed 02/2015• Recruit/Schedule Volunteers 02/2015• All partner and sponsor logos for printed materials and student bags 02/01/2015• Marketing and registration materials 02/15/2015• Distribution of materials to participating schools 6 weeks prior• Food/Space/Logistics confirmation/walk through 03/01/2015• Summer materials requests 03/01/2015• Schedule photographer 03/01/2015• Order presenter gifts and student sling bags 03/08/2015• Deadline for registration 03/18/2015(2 weeks prior)• Registration, folders Week of 03/23/2015• Assemble bags, folders Week of 03/23/2015• Last minutes…………….• 2nd Annual GEMS Conference 04/01/2015

2015 Workshop Matrix

Chemistry Detectives Dr. Lori Allen (UWP Chemistry) Sherry Babicky/Kristin Bensen/Kirstan Gimse

To Eat or Be Eaten: A Game in Optimal Foraging Dr. Catherine Mossman (UWP Biology) Marybeth Zuhlke/Hannah Roszkowski/Ashley Erb

Cell Phone PhysicsDr. Jim Robinson (UWP Teaching and Learning)

Peggy Surendonk

Cells, DNA, and you! Dr. David Higgs (UWP Biology) Pat Ehlert

Anatomy and Physiology DemosDr. Bryan Lewis and Dr. Summer Ostrowski (UWP Biology)

Jane Schuman

Going with the Glacier Flow Dr. Rachel Headley (UWP Geology) Andrea Egerton

Make your own app Heather Miles (UWP Computer Science) Karen Dagg

Cognitive Studies Dr. Melissa Gregg (UWP Psychology) Donna Lyons

The Persnickety Polygon Numbers Club Dr. Ryan Karr (UWP Mathematics) Judy Kober

Chemistry Microbiology Cathy Hinkfuss (SCJ) Brenda Wilkinson

Physical Therapist Shari Feldmann (Froedtert) Karen Verbeten

Chemistry/Engineer Stacy Verbeten Fabiola Diaz

Pharmacist Kylee Albright Ashley Neilson/Sharon Monroe

Engineering Chrisine Beimborn (UWM) Rebecca Osmolski

Computer Coding Kelly Gudaitis Simone Fletcher

Forenics Criminalist Prudham Susan Monroe/Beth Shelton

Description Presenter(s) Volunteer(s)

2015 Expenditures

• Transportation $800

• Facilities$500

• Materials and Supplies$2800

• Food$3000

– Lunch, Snacks, Water, Hospitability Room

• Other$700

2015 Evaluations from Girls• Three interesting facts you learned– Math is used a lot in physical therapy– Party but make time for studying– You don’t have a lot of time to take breaks or party

because you have to study– To not let money stop me from going to college– Finger prints are used to find criminals– Science and Math are very important– Don’t let other people be the reason not to do what

you want

2015 Evaluations from Girls• Three interesting facts you learned– I learned a lot about different science jobs– To take harder classes– To get good grades– To be good– That ordinary products at the grocery store are far

more complicated– Computer coding is easier than I thought it would be– I love engineering

2015 Evaluations from Girls• What did you like the best– The amount of hands-on activities– I liked that we weren’t just listening but also doing

things– It was very inspiring– The food, the advice from the teachers/students

and that we got to see how college life is– Being able to choose workshops– It was informational– The guest speakers

2015 Evaluations from Girls

• What would you change?– More subjects and activities– Give more areas more time – Less talking more interactive work

2015 Evaluations from Girls

• What else would you like us to know?– This program has guided me to select a career that

not only fits my values but also my interests– That GEMS is very life changing in knowing and

learning what you want to do in your life– I had a great time and I am now considering more

science fields– I HAD FUN

2015 Steering Committee

• Presenters mirror students in racial background• Logistical items – busing, soda machines• Training sessions for presenters and volunteers • Match skills of presenters to audience• More volunteers• Dynamic key note speaker• Set the expectations and ground rules early• Enhance parents’ workshops

Keys to Success

• Clear and aligned vision and mission• Partnering• Collaboration• Funding• Organization• Communications

Wisconsin STEM call-to-action

• Get involved! See for yourselves!• Apply for Tech Trek• Apply for additional Tech Savvy sites for 2016

(webinar on 29-Apr for more details!)• Participate in local events (GEMS, etc)

Q & A