spice up stem with scigirls: become a scigirls museum affiliate! december 17, 2009
TRANSCRIPT
Spice up STEM with SciGirls: Become a SciGirls Museum Affiliate!
December 17, 2009
Presenters
Lisa Regalla
Science Editor Margaret Duden
Outreach Specialist
Museum Affiliates Program
What is the SciGirls Museum Affiliates Program?
• Nationwide, two-year initiative
• Organized by Twin Cities Public Television (tpt)
• Based on the new SciGirls TV series
• Funded by the National Science Foundation
History
What is SciGirls?
• A new, national science TV series on PBS
• Produced by Twin Cities Public Television (tpt)
• The scion of DragonflyTV’s national outreach
initiative, also called SciGirls (ongoing)
History
DragonflyTV’s SciGirls outreach program is:
• Entering its 5th year, with SciGirls en Familia
• Offering free bilingual video and print resources to
engage girls in science inquiry
• Giving out grants in 2010 (RFP forthcoming)
A new PBS television series from Twin Cites Public Television (TPT)
premieres February 2010
Season One Episodes
Twelve half-hour episodes:
• Turtle Mania
• Puppet Power
• Dolphin Dive
• Digging Archaeology
• Horsing Around
• Blowin’ in the Wind
• High-Tech Fashion
• Science Cooks!
• Underwater Eco-Adventure
• Robots to the Rescue!
• Star Power
• Going Green
Promo Clip
Websitepbskidsgo.org
scigirls.org
Sample Episode
Izzie’s quest:
Izzie is running for class president. Her bff, Jake, tells her that her speech is irrelevant – the tallest candidate always wins.
Desperate to get a leg up on the competition, Izzie looks to the SciGirls!
Sample Episode
Puppet Power
Izzie checks out Anna and her friends, as they engineer a giant pig puppet for a parade.
Sample Episode
The result?
Izzie makes a giant puppet of herself. She has everyone’s attention during her speech until…
she loses her balance and falls over.
The lesson:
Always make a prototype!
Sample Episode
Educational value:
showcases real girls – not actors – engaged in STEM
underscores relevance of STEM in girls’ lives
highlights mentors and careers in STEM
models the process of engineering and/or inquiry
illustrates strategies for engaging girls
Museum Affiliates Program
The SciGirls Museum Affiliates Program is:
• A brand new, pilot outreach program
• Intended to grow, with new sites every year
• Expected to expand in scope, encompassing
more diverse organizations every year
Museum Affiliates Program
What – and who – are the affiliates?
• Science centers or museums in the US
• Selected this winter on a competitive basis
• 10 sites will be chosen for pilot program
• Institutional partnerships are encouraged!
Museum Affiliates Program
What are the goals of the SciGirls Museum Affiliates Program?
1) Help enhance existing girl-focused programs
2) Develop successful models for SciGirls programming
3) Empower affiliates to train others
4) Aid dissemination of free SciGirls resources
SciGirls Resources
What are the SciGirls resources?
DVD with all 12 episodes
Activity Guides with hands-on, inquiry-based
activities
Gender equity guide detailing SciGirls’
strategies for engaging girls in STEM
Gender Equity Booklet
SciGirls Strategies for Engaging Girls in Science
1) Encourage equitable communication and collaboration in a safe environment.
2) Prioritize learner-centered, open-ended tasks.
3) Present STEM content in contexts that girls find relevant and meaningful.
4) Offer specific, affirming feedback on things girls can control (i.e. effort, attitude).
5) Respect diverse, individual methods of learning and sharing knowledge.
6) Facilitate connections with role models and mentors.
7) Allow girls to challenge conventional thinking about STEM.
Activity Guide
What’s in the Activity Guides?
In-depth, inquiry-based investigations (designed to take 1 hour +)
Quick, simple inquiry-based activities (30 minutes or less)
Full inquiries incorporate the SciGirls research-based
strategies for engaging girls in STEM
Sample Activity
Going Green
After analyzing the trash in their school, three girls invent a way to turn plastic yogurt cups -- which are not recycled -- into a new product for gardeners.
Sample Activity
Waste Sort
Sample Activity
Waste Sort
Sample Activity
Science Process Skills
Classification
Estimation
Observation
Measurement
Sample Activity
Real world, meaningful context
Collaboration
Open-ended
Challenge conventional thinking
Support their efforts
Communicate to others
Other Resources
SciGirls project pages
SciGirls poster game
SciGirls club kit
Museum Affiliates Program
What are the benefits to SciGirls affiliates?
$1400 travel stipend for kick-off workshop
Plentiful supply of SciGirls video, print, and web resources
$200 stipend for materials/supplies
Monthly support via conference calls
SciGirls promotional items
Museum Affiliates Program
Who can become a SciGirls affiliate?
Museums and science centers
Must have existing girl-focused programs
Each “site” can have more than one organization
(institutional partnerships are okay!)
Expectations for Affiliates
Expectations in Year One
• Sign agreement affirming commitment to the program
• Send two or more representatives to March 17 kick-off workshop
($1400 travel stipend provided)
• Incorporate SciGirls resources and strategies into programs
• Provide monthly updates
• Submit annual report
Expectations for Affiliates
Expectations in Year Two (pending funding)
• Attend “Train-the-Trainer” workshop (travel stipend provided)
• Continue using SciGirls materials (new resources will be available)
• Train others how to use SciGirls resources and strategies
• Provide monthly updates
• Submit final report
Museum Affiliates Program
What is the application process?
Submit by January 15, 2010:
a completed application form (posted on NGCP site at
http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=159)
a letter of support from your Executive Director (or equivalent)
Send to:
Margaret DudenTwin Cities Public Television, 172 East 4th Street, St. Paul MN 55101 fax: 651-229-1282; email: [email protected]
What does the application ask for?
Description of your existing programs:
Girl-focused
Professional development
Ideas for using SciGirls resources
In girl-focused programs
In professional development programs
Application form is posted at: http://
www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=159
Museum Affiliates Program
Museum Affiliates Program
What are the selection criteria?
1) Commitment to gender equity
2) Plans for using SciGirls materials and strategies
3) Opportunities for dissemination
4) Unique contributions (audiences, location, programs)
Application form is posted at: http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=159
Museum Affiliates Program
Timeline: Year OneJanuary 15, 2010: Application Deadline
February 1, 2010: Decisions announced
Mid February, 2010: Affirm commitment to the program
March 17, 2010: Workshop in Philadelphia, PA
Spring 2010: Begin programs
Timeline: Year Two (Pending Funding)March 2012: Train-the-trainer workshop
Spring 2012: Begin programs
