Educational Resources For A Greener and Better World!

Success Strategies for Engaging Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Please join us for this exciting virtual event! A webcast on "Success Strategies for Engaging Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)" brought to you by the NSF ITEST Learning Resource Center at Education Development Center, Inc (EDC).

This webcast will take place on Wednesday, September 21st 2005 at 2:00 pm, Eastern Time. Details on how to join both the web and accompanying phone conference are at the end of this email.

------------------------------------------------
ABOUT ITEST
------------------------------------------------

The Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)program was established by the National Science Foundation in direct response to the concern about shortages of information technology workers in the United States. The ITEST program funds projects that provide opportunities for both school-age children and teachers to build the skills and knowledge needed to advance their study and to function and contribute in a technologically rich society.

In communities across the United States, student and teacher ITEST project participants work hand in hand with scientists and engineers on extended research projects that carry them beyond the classroom, using technology to explore topics ranging from biotechnology to environmental resource management. The ITEST program also funds a National Learning Resource Center at Education Development Center, Inc., to support, synthesize and disseminate the learning from the program to a wider audience.

Currently, in the third year of the program, there are 50 ITEST projects in over 25 states. Together, these projects reach more than 39,000 students, 1,700 teachers, and 750 parents and other caregivers. Several projects focus specifically on reaching and engaging girls and this webcast will share some of their work to address the obstacles and stereotypes around the engagement and achievement of women in STEM.

------------------------------------------------
DISCUSSION THEMES
------------------------------------------------

We have assembled an expert panel of speakers from the ITEST community, private sector and research and policy communities. Together, they will discuss:

- Strategies for the recruitment and retention of girls and women in STEM
- Promising practices for effectively engaging girls in STEM activities
- Ways of fostering persistence through youth and self efficacy development

The webcast will end with questions and feedback from the audience.

------------------------------------------------
SPEAKERS
------------------------------------------------

Carroll McGillin, National Initiatives Manager, Cisco Networking Academy Program

Cisco Systems, Inc. and the Cisco Learning Institute, recognizing the current gender gap in the IT field, partnered in April 2000 and developed the Gender Initiative project. This initiative seeks ways to increase females' access to IT training and career opportunities, beginning with the Cisco Networking Academy(tm) Program which is aimed at helping narrow the gender gap and increase female participation in the Internet economy.

Marcia Kropf, Chief Operating Officer, Girls Inc. Girls Incorporated is a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. With roots dating to 1864, Girls Inc has provided vital educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. Today, innovative programs help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling lives.

Speakers from the ITEST Community:

Claudia Morrell, Principal Investigator (PI), Enhancing Science and Technology Education and Exploration Mentoring (ESTEEM) project, Center for Women and IT.

In this project, the University of Maryland-Baltimore County's Center for Women and Information Technology, the Shriver Center, and the Chabot Space and Science Center are partnered to implement and beta test Chabot's TechBridge curriculum in six middle schools. Activities include an after-school program, weekend fieldtrips, and a four-week summer program. The ESTEEM program focuses on encouraging girls' interest and involvement in elective information technology (IT) classes and supports their pursuit of IT careers.

Randal August, PI, Robotics: Fundamentals of Information Technology and Engineering project, Northeastern University.

TechBoston and Northeastern University are working collaboratively to integrate an innovative robotics curriculum into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses in the Boston Public Schools and in other racially diverse and economically disadvantaged Massachusetts school districts. The project targets 90 STEM teachers in grades seven and eight, each of whom receive summer professional development and follow-up support in leading yearlong after-school robotics programs.

Deborah Muscella, PI, Technology at the Crossroads project, Simmons College

This project engages middle school youth (with particular emphasis on girls) in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS) and HTML programming for use in conducting environmental research in Boston. The program is comprised of a spring after-school component, three-week summer camp (held on the campus of Simmons College) and a fall after-school component.

------------------------------------------------
TO JOIN THE WEBCAST
------------------------------------------------
On Wednesday, September 21st 2005 at 2:00pm Eastern Time, click this
URL: https://premconf.webex.com/premconf/j.php?ED=85596202&UID=27482692

The password is: itest

Please plan to log in 5-10 mins early, to allow the log in and any necessary downloads to take effect.

--------------------------------------------------------
TO JOIN THE AUDIO CONFERENCE
--------------------------------------------------------
Please use the following phone numbers and passcodes for the audio conferencing part of your ReadyCast hosted meeting.

Conference toll-free phone number: 1-800-453-7412 Conference
toll/international phone number: 1-719-867-3420 Participant Passcode number: 190897

To hear a menu of audio enhancement options, press *1 at any time during your conference. Options include the following:

To mute or "un-mute" your line, PRESS *6.
To increase conference volume, if you are having trouble hearing others, PRESS *4.
To decrease conference volume, PRESS *7.
To increase the volume of your voice, if others are having trouble hearing you, PRESS *5.
To decrease the volume of your voice, PRESS *8.
To hear a Help menu, PRESS *1.
To reach a reservationist, PRESS *0.