Excerpt from the 624/14 STEMCONNECTOR, below.  I found the drop in computer science degrees for women both notable and disappointing. I wonder if it is connected to the growth of computer gaming and the large gender disparities associated with that.  I read recently that game developers are trying to attract a more diverse user base.  John

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Diversity in STEM Chelsea Clinton: Schools Need to Support Girls in STEM (TIME)  “In my math and science classes, the teachers usually always picked boys to answer questions, which really bugged me because I knew the answers,” a Colorado student told Chelsea Clinton and an all-female panel during a discussion about getting girls interested in STEM on Monday. In 1984, 37% of computer-science degrees went to women. Now only 12% of computer science graduates are women. This divide explains why the Clinton Foundation’s No Ceilings initiative wants to find a solution to one of the largest remaining gender gaps in America. “We’re looking from 1995 until 2015 as to where women and girls have gained in terms of rights and opportunities around the world and in the United States and where gaps still persist. And STEM around the world but acutely here in the U.S. is an area where not only the gap remains but the gap has widened in the last 20 years,” Clinton told TIME. It

From Education Wee's June 24 2014 Issue, Six Characteristics of a Great STEM Lesson by Anne Jolly (former middle school teacher):

http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2014/06/17/ctq_jolly_stem.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

ReSET volunteer Bob Hauptman shares his thoughts about his pre-K volunteer program at Georgian Forest Elementary in Montgomery County, MD, below.  

Regarding our brief discussion about my experience with the three and four year olds:  I never in my wildest dreams could have anticipated what I am going through.  These children are just transitioning from being babies into being students.  Although they are restless, they are thoroughly delightful, enjoyable, courteous, imaginative, curious, fun to be with, and eager to get into things and learn first hand by doing.   I do believe that I am accomplishing my two primary objectives: that the children have fun and that they are motivated to learn more about science.  For frosting on the cake, I am overjoyed to see them so excited and to respond to me so positively...More than ever, I believe that's how to get the most bang for the buck.  I would be happy to discuss this with our volunteers, and to have them witness my class first-hand.  However, it does require a change in thinking, that we are not there to teach, but to stimulate and motivate.  My success, such as it is, is due largely to the participation of the two terrific teachers.   Bob Hauptman


The value of introducing children to science before Kindergarten is becoming increasingly recognized. ReSET volunteer shares his thoughts about working with 3 and 4 year olds below.  If you know of anyone who may be interested in volunteering with this age group, please let me know.  ReSET offers both direct programs for children and programs that train pre-K teachers in how to lead hands-on science sessions with the children.  ReSET can order science kits for volunteers that have been designed for this age group.

Women in STEM

Rebel Toy Company Launches New Quest to Turn Princesses Into Engineers (Wired) 
When GoldieBlox tried to launch its line of engineering and building toys for girls, Lindsey Shepard says she heard one thing over and over from the rest of the toy industry: “Girls don’t want them.” It seems that someone forgot to tell those girls. In the past seven months, GoldieBlox has raised more than $285,000 on Kickstarter, garnered millions of views for a video about its toys, pre-sold more than a million dollars’ worth of products, and parlayed that groundswell of support into winning a contest for a Super Bowl commercial slot. Its toys are stocked by big retailers like Toys R Us and Target, even expanding into the United Kingdom and Australia. And now, it’s filming the follow-up to the original video—which is where Shepard and I are sitting at right now. 
From STEMconnector

ReSET volunteer Jenny Tsao shares information below on an on-line training course, free of charge, starting April 7.  While it's oriented towards middle and high schools, I'd like to start a dialogue among ReSET'ers who take the course on ideas for adjusting the content and presentation for elementary schools.  JOhn 

Hi John,

I just wanted to pass you a note that may be of interest to current/future volunteers. I don't know if you've heard of Coursera, but it is a site that offers free online courses on various subjects.

I am enrolled in a course that starts April 7th entitled: Re-Engineering Your Science Curriculum, taught by Exploratorium Teacher Institute.

More info here: https://www.coursera.org/course/teachengineering

It is free of charge and there is no obligation to complete the course or even participate. Just thought you might want to pass along information.

That's all!

Jenny

STEM on Steroids

Wow - I didn't know this was happening.  I had to check to make sure it's not April Fool's Day. Feedback?

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/03/03/140303fa_fact_khatchadourian

US PTO Volunteers Third Grade Report - Candy Bridges

Hi ReSETers,

I wanted to thank our amazing volunteers who was able to join us at our experiment last Tuesday and especially to welcome one of our new members, Abra Fein, who joined us for her first trip to Whittier and did a great job.

The experiment went very well and the students, as always, had a wide variety of bridge designs and didn’t try to eat too much of the candy until afterwards.  This year we added a new part to the experiment where we used different books having different weights to put on top of the bridges, which provided an excuse for the students to do some additional math when determining how much weight their bridges could hold.  This addition was based on feedback we received from the teachers last year on trying to incorporate  more practical skills into the experiments, for example reinforcing math skills, and we will continue to do so throughout the remaining year.

We are looking forward to our next experiment this coming December, one of my personal favorites – Dry-Ice Ice Cream.  We will be having the dry run for the experiment on Tuesday Dec. 10, followed by the experiment the following week on Tuesday Dec. 17.  Of all the experiments, this one generally requires the most volunteers to make sure the dry-ice is used safely, and so even if you haven’t been able to join us for the experiments so far, we’d love to see you for this experiment, plus the ice cream is always good!

Hope everyone is doing great and happy Thanksgiving week.

Pete, Danielle and Robert