As the summer draws to a close, kids, families, teachers and entire communities are getting ready to go back to school. At Techbridge, we’re getting ready to go back to after school – this will be our 16th year of connecting girls to STEM opportunities through after school programs.
When it comes to learning about STEM, we want to know what matters most to girls. So, every year at Techbridge, we ask our girls what we can do to improve our programs. They’ve given us lots of feedback over the last 16 years! Here’s what we’ve learned:
Girls Need Role Models
After our first year of after school programs, we asked girls if they liked Techbridge’s engineering and technology activities. They answered with an enthusiastic, “Yes!” Then we asked if they could see themselves working in technology or engineering one day. They answered with a hesitant, “Maybe?”
Many of our Techbridge girls do not have family members who went to college or have community members they can relate to who are pursuing STEM careers. Girls tell us, “In order for us to be it, we need to be able to see it.” That’s why role models are a critical part of the Techbridge program. In addition to gaining skills and confidence in STEM-related activities, we introduce girls to women (and men!) who work at leading companies like Microsoft, and learn what it’s really like to work in STEM.
Sometimes, without intending to, a well-meaning role model might say or do something that can actually shut girls down. For example, a role model who emphasizes that she was ‘always good at math’ or chose engineering because ‘everyone’ in her family was an engineer, might be sending unconscious signals to girls that reinforce stereotype threat.
To help role models feel comfortable interacting with girls we train role models before introducing them to our girls. Want to learn more about what makes a great role model? Check out our Role Models Matter guide, which is full of informative videos and resources.
Girls Care About Connections
Often, STEM role models are surprised to learn that girls are just as interested to hear about their lives outside of work, as they are to hear about their 9 to 5 jobs. That’s because girls often look to build connections between themselves and others. Where did you grow up? How many siblings do you have? Do you have any pets? What’s your favorite food? These may seem like irrelevant questions at first, but again and again we see girls asking Techbridge role models about their ‘ordinary’ life, because girls are searching for common ground and things they can relate to.
A great way to help girls make connections to STEM is to talk about what you love and how that passion is related to technology or engineering. Think back to when you were in 6th or 7th grade. What did you love back then? How did that passion grow or change over the years? How is it expressed today? When we see role models making connections between what they liked when they were younger and what they do today, we notice girls listen attentively and remember these stories for years to come.
In an exciting project we’re working on with IDEO.org, Techbridge is building an application that will connect girls to STEM careers related to their passions. Check out our video about the project, called “I Heart STEM”!
Girls Want To Help
Did you notice the girl in the video who talked about how she likes to help others? We hear that all the time from our girls. Over the years, we’ve had success with capturing girls’ imagination about STEM careers when we integrate stories about how engineering and technology helps others into our curriculum. So in addition to learning computer programming, electrical engineering, product design, and mechanical design, we also show girls how engineers helps solve problems in local communities and around the world.
Last year, a group of our girls worked with our friends at Save The Bay, who wanted to know they could better engage with youth in the community. The girls practiced user-centered design and conducted interviews, then collaborated in groups to generate ideas, build prototypes, and present their final concepts. It was an incredibly successful and exciting project for the girls because they knew that they were really helping members of their community, and that their designs would help Save The Bay make a greater impact on the environment.
Have a Growth Mindset About Role Modeling
At Techbridge, we celebrate the Mindset philosophy made famous by Carol Dweck of Stanford University. A growth mindset is one that says any ability can be developed through dedication and hard work – that with enough perseverance and grit, anyone can learn how to program a computer or rebuild a car engine, no matter their gender, socio-economic background, or color of their skin. A growth mindset believes that mistakes are normal and to be expected when practicing a new skill.
We are thrilled that the STEM industry has started recognizing the importance of connecting kids to STEM Role Models and mentors. We also know that being a role model is a skill, and that like any other skill, it takes time and patience to get really good at it. We’ve been working with some of our Role Models for over ten years, and the best ones look at their interactions with youth and ask, “What could I have done better?”
So as we all get ready for going back to school, maybe you’re thinking about how you’d like to help inspire a girl to change the world through STEM this year! To find out when our role model training is happening at Microsoft, reach out to Rachel Wold at [email protected].
About Us
Techbridge after school programs reach girls in grades 4-12 in Oakland, East San Jose, Greater Seattle and Washington, DC. Our organization trains teachers, after school providers, and volunteers through partnerships with Girl Scouts, YUSA, Boys & Girls Clubs and local school districts
Last year:
- 100% of Techbridge girls who graduated high school were accepted to college.
- 96% of Techbridge girls said engineering is a good career for girls.
- 98% of parents said that because of Techbridge their daughter’s confidence in STEM has grown.
- 100% of teachers say that the girls-only environment positively affects girls’ participation in STEM activities.
###
To learn more about Microsoft’s commitment to youth and education, visit our YouthSpark Hub or follow us on twitter at @msftcitizenship.
