Attracting Your Daughters to Engineering!

1. Attracting Your Daughters to Engineering! Presentation by Paul and Christina Ackerman

2. Welcome to “Expand Your Horizons!” Today • 10:45 to 11:45 Presentations • 11:45 to 11:55 Q and A Session • ~11:55 Break for Lunch Thanks to the sponsors!

3. Paul Ackerman • BS, University of Florida: Education • MA, University of Central Florida: Educational Technology • 26th year of Public School Teaching • 8 years teaching at Edgewater HS in the Engineering, Science, and Tech Magnet • C++, Java, UCF Engineering Dual Enrollment, Game Programming, Cisco Network Academy • 3 years teaching at East River HS • Engineering, robotics, game programming • http://teacher.ocps.net/paul.ackerman/

4. Christina Ackerman • BS, University of Central Florida, Physics • MS, University of Central Florida, Mathematics • Currently working for Northrop Grumman Laser Systems • 25 years in the engineering field • Optical/Laser Engineering • Software development • Process Improvement

5. “So You Want to be an Engineer?” • Link to short video from Cisco on women in engineering. • http://www.engineering.com/Videos/VideoPlayer/tabid/4627/VideoId/1947/So-You-Want-To-Be-An-Engineer.aspx

6. Encouraging Girls to Study Engineering Christina Ackerman Manager, Process Engineering

7. Introduction • Stereotypes • “Boys are good at math, girls are not” • “Engineering is for nerds” • “Math is hard” • “Science is boring” • “When would I ever use this?” Is there any truth to the stereotype?

8. Studies • Science News: Tracking The Reasons Many Girls Avoid Science And Math • http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080905153807.htm • Concern • Perceptions of math and science are formed by barriers and support • Offset • “If they feel they can do it, it feeds their interest” Girls perceptions of math and science are key to their success

9. Studies • Science News: Believing Stereotype Undermines Girls’ Math Performance • http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100125172940.htm • Concerns • Female elementary school teachers who are anxious about math pass on the female students the stereotype that boys, not girls, are good at math • Study found boys are not affected by their teacher’s math anxiety, but girls are • Elementary school children are highly influenced by the attitudes of adults • This relationship is strongest for students and adults of the same gender • More than 90% of elementary school teachers are female Be aware of your own anxieties and the impact on the students

10. Studies • Science News: Few Gender Differences in Math Abilities, Worldwide Study Finds • http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100105112303.htm • Offset • Girls around the world are not worse at math than boys, when they are encouraged to succeed. • Girls from countries where gender equality is more prevalent are more likely to perform better on mathematics assessment tests • Given the proper educational tools • Have visible female role models excelling in mathematics • Schools, teachers, and families must emphasize the value of girls learning math Effective, confidence-enhancing mathematics instruction for girls

11. Resources • Websites • Animal Watch (www.animalwatch.org) • Designed for 6th grade but has proven successful between 4th and 7th grades • Algebra readiness focus • Study proved this program increased girls confidence in their math abilities • Engineer Girl (www.engineergirl.org) • Encourage girls in technology, science, and engineering • Essay contest • Girl Talk (www.desiretoinspire.org) • High school girls mentor middle school girl • Campus programs • University of Maryland, iEngineer (4th and 5th graders) • Johns Hopkins University, Ready Set Design! (for girls) • Introduction to Engineering, University of Notre Dame (risingseniorssummer program) • Contests • Design Squad Trash to Treasure Contest (for ages of 5 to19) • Toychallenge(5th - 8th graders) • American Mathematics Competition (AMC8, 10, 12, and AIME) Sponsor the creation of a girl’s club at your school

12. Encouraging Girls • You must believe that girls can do mathematics and do it well • Especially important for African American and Hispanic females • You need to make sure you recognize and promote mathematical ability • Recommend placement in appropriate courses and high-ability classes • Maintain high expectations for girls and take personal responsibility for encouraging them in mathematics Teacher confidence in girls’ ability is key to their success

13. Encouraging Girls • Encourage girls to solve problems on their own, refrain from providing the answers • Even girls who have demonstrated talents in mathematics have less confidence than their male counterparts • These girls need to be recognized as experts, given awards and opportunities to extern their learning accordingly Teacher confidence in girls’ ability is key to their success

14. Encouraging Girls • Promote cooperative learning, especially beneficial to girls • The group needs each other to solve the problem, all are responsible for one another’s learning • In co-ed groups, boys dominate and girls stand back • Consider single gender groups when promoting cooperative learning • Typically girls are less risk taking than boys • Use the think-pair-share strategy • Each student formulates their own conjectures with quiet think time • Students are paired together (single gender) to test their ideas out with a peer • Whole class discussion takes place and all students are more willing to share • Encourage competition Increase girls awareness of role models and opportunities for their future

15. Encouraging Girls • Study famous women mathematicians and scientists • Couple of results from Google search of “famous female engineers”: • Ellen Swallow Richards – pioneer in the field of environmental engineering, conducted first water quality studies of Massachusetts waters in 1870, developed methods still being used today, known as the “mother of environmental engineering” • Lillian Gilbreth – PhD in ME, taught engineering at three major universities, developed time and motion tools for industry, first woman in the Society of Mechanical Engineers, the book and movie “Cheaper by the Dozen” is based on how she and her husband managed their household • Show how the girls can find their place in STEM and what their contribution to their personal legacy can be Increase girls awareness of role models and opportunities for their future

16. Encouraging Girls • Identify various career opportunities in mathematics and science: • Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineer - Fascinated by things that fly? Consider a career in aerospace engineering. • Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineer - Thinking about a career in medicine? Biomedical engineering is a unique opportunity to help people through the combination medicine and technology. • Civil Engineer - What do the Egyptian pyramids, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the road you take from home to school have in common? A civil engineer was involved in building them all. • Computer Engineer - Comfortable with a keyboard? Computer engineering offers enormous opportunities for your future. • Environmental Engineer - Interested in protecting the environment? Concern for the environment is the top priority for environmental engineers. • Industrial Engineer - Do you sometimes think "I could do that better or faster"? You may have a future as an industrial engineer. • Materials Engineer - How do they get the non-stick surface of a frying pan to stick to the pan? A materials engineer would know. • Mechanical Engineer - Like to take things apart? Mechanical engineers build and maintain all kinds of machines - from nanobots to space exploration vehicles. Increase girls awareness of role models and opportunities for their future

17. Encouraging Girls • Ensure you call on boys and girls equally for solutions • Promote hands-on, active involvement in learning and doing math • Encourage females to use computers and technology • Girls typically have less computer experience and enroll in word processing courses • Boys take advanced computer courses You are one of the most important influences in a girl’s life

19. Activity: Self Assessmentof Interests • Taken from Holland’s “Six Types of People” also known as Holland’s “Six Personality Types” • See handout Link here to full pdf document. • Fill in the circle to the right next to the statement • Add up the number of circles in each column, total it at the bottom • Check your assessment results on the second handout

20. Prepping for Engineering • STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics • Standards and guidelines that define the most important aspects of preparing students for greater success in the high tech workplace.

21. Project Lead The Way(PLTW) • Collaboration • Creation • Critical thinking • Centered on learning and essential professions needed in the world today and tomorrow • Fuels imaginative thinking, creative problem solving and innovative solutions • Skills that will encourage success in education and beyond

22. PLTW • “As the nation's leading provider of rigorous and innovative STEM education programs, our vision is to ignite the spark of ingenuity, creativity and imagination within all students. PLTW courses are preparing students to become the most innovative and productive in the world.”

23. PLTW • Middle School Program: Gateway to Technology! • Beginning at Corner Lakes Middle School 2012-2013! Courses will eventually include: • Automation and robotics • Design and modeling • Energy and the Environment • Science of Technology • Contact Dianne Johnson for further detail on the MS program

24. PLTW

25. What We Do to Spark Interest! • Lego Robotics • 25 Lego Mindstorm NXT Robotics Kits, purchased with grant money. • Hands on, students construct their robot, learn to program it and make it perform automated tasks. • http://www.legoeducation.us/eng/competitions/

26. What We Do to Spark Interest! • At Edgewater HS: Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC)

27. What We Do to Spark Interest! • At East River High School • With grant money from Northrop Grumman, (in 2 ½ weeks) built, programmed, and then entered robot in competition at Disney Wide World of Sports…

28. In Summary Step One: Find out what interests the student/child, this interest survey and info can be a start This interest survey and info can be a start. If that interest is in any of the STEM disciplines: Step Two: Encourage this interest through active participation, encouragement, and support. Web sites found earlier in the presentation are a good start here.

29. In Summary • Step Three: Encourage participation in any of the local robotics clubs, rocket launching clubs, trips to Orlando Science Center, Epcot, NASA Space museum and NASA summer programs, science camps at local universities, etc. • Step Four: When registering for classes at school, look for electives with technology or engineering related titles. There are many different titles and offerings will vary from school to school. Consult with the guidance counselor!

30. In Summary • Step Five: Continue to encourage and actively participate in the students educational progress. • Step Six: Upon anticipation of graduation: take ACT, SAT, and any other college prep tests or activities that are available. • Step Seven: Apply for scholarships which can be based on financial need, minority status, special needs, academic achievement, or a combination of all of these!

31. Contacts Paul Ackerman East River High School 654 Columbia School Road Orlando, FL 32833 (407) 956-8550 x 2588 paul.ackerman@ocps.net Christina Ackerman Northrop Grumman 2787 S. Orange Blossom Tr. Apopka, FL 32708 (321) 354-3803 christina.ackerman@ngc.com