Training Resources
Everyone representing the field of engineering to girls should be armed with the following.
1. A reference for public communications
2. A consistent message
3. A clarity about what sets engineering apart from other professions
4. An understanding of why engineering matters
5. Tips and techniques for doing this well.
This webpage is divided into three sections.
1. Basic Training
2. Program Specific Training
3. Advanced Training
Basic Training: Inspire the Next Generation of Engineers
Stand up and be counted! Upon completing any of the trainings below, take a very brief (3 min) survey.
In 2008 the National Academy of Engineering released, Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering. In it, they propose a positioning statement for engineering:
“No profession unleashes the spirit of innovation like engineering. From research to real-world applications, engineers constantly discover how to improve lives by creating bold new solutions that connect science to life in unexpected, forward-thinking ways. Few professions turn so many ideas into so many realities. Few have such a direct and positive effect on people’s everyday lives. We are counting on engineers and their imaginations to help us meet eh needs of the 21st century.”
Use this as a reference for a consistent public message that clarifies what sets engineering apart, and emphasizes why engineering matters. A link to a webinar replay around the findings of this study can be found below.
We highly recommend the following webinar trainings to all engineering outreach practitioners:
Role Modeling 101: Inspire Girls in Engineering (Maximizing the Message)
Participants will learn tips and techniques to become more effective role models, and get the most out of hands-on activities, classroom visits, and field trips. Dr. Linda Kekelis and Meg Shimizu from TechBridge (www.techbridgegirls.org) presented on this valuable topic.
Effectively Communicating Engineering Careers to Girls (Maximizing the Message)
Participants will learn about new, research-based messaging and outreach resources from Engineer Your Life and other programs that will help you reach out and encourage youth to consider engineering as a career option. While the title singles out high school girls, this is excellent material for communicating about engineering at any level. Thea Sahr and Ellen Robinson from Engineer Your Life (www.engineeryourlife.org) will be presenting on this valuable topic.
Program Specific Training: How to Use Particular Resources and Programs
Great Resources you should know About: National Girls Collaborative Project and EWeek
Description: National Girls Collaborative (NGCP) and National EWeek Foundation, Thursday August 25th at 8:30pm Eastern. Presenters Amy Foster from NGCP and Thea Sahr from EWeek will guide you through excellent resources including NGCP mini grants from and EWeek’s Future Cities Program.
Description: Presented by SWE members Esther Heller and Sue Anderson. If you’re thinking of having an event for Girl Scouts or have wondered about this organization that builds girls of courage, confidence and character, join us in this webinar presented by two long-time SWE and Girl Scout volunteers.Participants will:
- Gain an understanding of the Girl Scout organization and its culture
- Become familiar with the six Girl Scout age levels and the awards that they earn
- Hear about successful interactive badge workshops for Girl Scouts
- Become prepared to run an event based on established best practices
- Gain insight on working with your local Girl Scout Organization and developing a successful program for girls
Download a .pdf version of the PowerPoint used for this webinar.
Increasing the Involvement of Girls and Female Mentors in FIRST
SWE recently entered into a partnership with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), and now you have a chance to learn more about it.
In the webinar, you will learn:
- About FIRST
- The details of our partnership
- The importance of bringing more girls into FIRST
- The various ways to get involved with FIRST
- Where to find funding through SWE and beyond
Wow! That's Engineering! Making the Most of your SWE Outreach Event
While the demand for technology-savvy entrants in the workplace is growing three times faster than all other occupations, the percentage of women engineers in the workforce remains at approximately ten percent. In an effort to change the current perspective of engineering and technology fields among girls, the Society of Women Engineers will celebrate Wow! That’s Engineering! honoring the achievements of women and girls as they develop and discover the future through technology.
In this webinar, Shayla Bennett (SWE Member and Wow! Workgroup Chair) and Randy Freedman (SWE K-12 Outreach Manager) provided background information on Wow!, showed where to find tools and templates, described the difference between a Signature Event and an Event in a Box, provided funding resources, and identified best practices for running a successful event.
SASS-E Girlz: Engineer and School Counselor Partnership Program
Participants will be introduced to a new lesson plan package, SASS-E Girlz, which is designed to encourage girls to consider a career in engineering. SASS-E Girlz is a comprehensive career awareness program that SWE members can implement in conjunction with middle school counselors that focuses on girls developing the Skills, Attitude, Science, and Smarts for Engineering! Dr. Lisa Hinkelman from Ohio State University presented on this resource. Click here for downloadable SASS-E Girlz materials.
Design Squad: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers
Design Squad is a PBS engineering reality show and multimedia campaign that is all about bringing engineering to life for middle school kids. In this interactive webinar, you'll learn how to use the series' free educational resources to start up or spice up your efforts to get girls excited about engineering. Learn about Design Squad, PBS' popular engineering reality competition series, find out about Design Squad's outreach campaign and FREE resources that you can use to get kids ages 9 and up excited about engineering and the design process, and get great tips on how to talk to girls about engineering.
Advanced Training: Learn More
Changing the Conversation: Messages for Improving Public Understanding of Engineering
Participants will learn about the context around the National Academy of Engineering study, Changing the Conversation and dive deep into the findings of this study. Kathryn A. Gray, P.E., F.NSPE, Chair of Engineers Week 2009 and Thomas C. Roberts, P.E., Assistant Dean, Kansas State University present on this informative topic.
National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) offers an excellent suite of of trainings on these and other topics.
- Subtle Micro-Messages Impact the Success of Women and Girls in STEM
- Improving Academic Achievement: Effects of Stereotypes, Beliefs about Intelligence, and Belonging
- Girl Tech: Mentoring Girls in STEM
- Nontraditional Career Preparation: Root Causes and Strategies
- Interactive Effects in the Theory of Planned Behavior: Examining Attitudes, Norms, Control, and Stereotype Threat to Predict Girls' Math Performance and Intentions
- Teaching Spatial Reasoning to Improve Retention of Women in Technology
- Using the Data: How to Plan, Develop and Use Program Evaluation to Build a Better Program
- Promoting Access to STEM Learning Opportunities and Jobs for Students with Disabilities
