Getting to the core of how to engage girls’ interest for STEM

Getting to the core of how to engage girls’ interest for STEAM

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Authors: Laritza Machín-Rincón Lara Ferrando Esteve

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Introduction

01 Quiz

Index

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Collect all the numbers by completing each of the challenges and enter them in order in the final section to finish the game.You can take notes during your learning journey.

INTRODUCTION

It is necessary to highlight the usefulness of information and communication technologies (ICT) in teaching content related to STEAM. Using technology within the classroom contributes to gender equality because it is a tool that both female and male students can use equally. Using ICT has the potential to empower female students, as it helps reduce the stereotypes of associating technological competence with men. The use of technologies in the classroom enables equal opportunities for girls and offers space-time flexibility and the possibility for online collaboration. Hence, girls and boys have a gender-neutral space to interact in equal circumstances.

QUIZ

Complete the following quiz and get the first figure to get your reward!

This quiz was consctructed based on the following references: Hutchinson, J. (2014). 'Girls into STEM and Komm mach MINT’: English and German approaches to support girls’ STEM career-related learning. Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling (NICEC). Prendes-Espinosa, M. P., García-Tudela, P. A., & Solano-Fernández, I. M. (2020). Igualdad de género y TIC en contextos educativos formales: Una revisión sistemática. Comunicar, 28(63), 9-20. UNESCO International Symposium and Policy Forum: Cracking the Code: Girls' Education in STEM, 28-30 August 2017, Bangkok, Thailand; programme

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QUIZ

QUESTION 1/5

Which of these affirmations is true?

The brain of girls and boys are equal. Social stimulation affects girls' and boys' abilities' development and their interests

The mother's hormones affect the babies' brain development, but after birth, social stimulation determines girls' and boys' abilities

The brain of girls and boys are different, therefore some abilities and interests develop more in men than in women or viceversa

QUIZ

Correct!

Explanation: Recent neuroscientific research has shown that the study and learning mechanisms do not differ according to sex but are influenced by the external environment since the brain in the first years of life is malleable.

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QUIZ

QUESTION 2/5

There are psychological components that can influence the interest of girls and adolescents in STEAM. Which are they?

Self-perception about one`s ability and attitudes for scientific subjects

Self-perception about one`s ability and coping stategies

Emotional Intelligence and Self-confidence

QUIZ

Correct!

Explanation: There are two determining factors: the perception of oneself and the attitude for scientific subjects. Both of which are still linked to the surrounding social environment during growth. During childhood and adolescence when combined with gender stereotypes such as "children are better at math and science than girls" and "science and engineering are male domain", these factors can affect girls' interest towards STEAM and their self-perception about their abilities in scientific subjects.

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QUIZ

QUESTION 3/5

The family can influence the interest of girls and adolescents in STEAM. Which of the following has more impact?

Parents' beliefs and stereotypes regarding their own daughters and sons

To have access to a computer and the internet at home

A mother who is an Engineer.

QUIZ

Correct!

Explanation: Parents play an important role and in particular, it is the mother's expectations that influence the most, especially in the choice of higher education and career choices. For example, in a research about girls attendance to computing events, 60% of them were booked by their mums and 40% by their dads. Another study shows that in those families where the mother actively participates in the labour market, the performance and results of her daughters in STEAM subjects are better.

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QUIZ

QUESTION 4/5

Teachers, teaching activities and teaching methodologies have an impact on Girls' interest and performance in STEAM subjects. Which of the following has the highest impact on girls' interest?

Teaching methodologies

Class dynamics

The subjects being taught

QUIZ

Correct!

Explanation:It has been shown that women in teaching roles are beneficial for girls and boys as they represent a model of inspiration and help to reduce gender stereotypes in STEAM scope. Additionally, teachers should focus on class dynamics, promoting equal learning between males and females, STEAM experiences to keep the interest and understanding of these studies high and avoiding evaluation processes that include gender stereotypes (e.g. discrediting skills STEAM of girls and girls). Research has proven that teachers' unconscious gender stereotypes can affect their evaluation of girls' and boys' performance. For example, the grades of a math exam were consistently better for boys than those of girls when the sex was known by the teacher, but the same was not true when it was not known.

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QUIZ

QUESTION 5/5

Social processes affect the participation of girls in science subjects. Which of the following would have more negative impact on girls partipation ?

Mass media content showing men as scientists

Showing science professionals as geeks

Scarce gender equality policies

QUIZ

Correct!

Explanation: the participation of girls in science subjects shows a positive result, especially in societies where gender equality is greater. Targeted actions, such as incentives or gender policies, can increase the number of girls and women in STEAM careers. However, the world of mass media is also part of this factor: more and more often this area is the victim of gender stereotypes that particularly affect girls in adolescence. For example: the mass media have specifically contributed to the proliferation of computer scientists as introverted people, with sociability problems, geeks or extravagant, lovers of comics and science fiction, and video games as well as all kinds of technological elements .

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QUIZ

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Among all the statements you discover, click only on the correct ones

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CLICK ONLY ON THE CORRECT STATEMENTS 1/3

Girls are not very able to succeed in STEAM skills

Boys always outperform girls in maths

Girls and Boys have the same potential for learning scientific subjects

You can drag the light to search through the dark

All girls schools generate lower proportions of girls who study STEAM at a higher level

Girls are more likely to engage with curricula that emphasise abstract theoretical learning

CLICK ONLY ON THE CORRECT STATEMENTS 2/3

Mass media messages do not have a storng influence on girls motivation towards STEAM careers

Girls' perception of their own competence in STEAM subjects is a crucial factor for them to pursue a scientific career

Parents do not influence girls' higher education and career choices

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CORRECT!

Single-sex STEAM learning environments limit girls' confidence in their performance in science subjects

Gender stereotypes do not affect girls' interest towards STEAM

CLICK ONLY ON THE CORRECT STATEMENTS 3/3

If Girls meet men in STEAM employment this should enhance their overall career awareness

Gender policies have no impact on the number of girls and women in STEAM careers

STEAM role models and mentors are key in challenging girls’ assumptions about what ‘people like me’ can do

You can drag the light to search through the dark

CORRECT!

Girls' motivation to study STEAM careers is not related to the practical applications of STEAM skills in their lives,

Girls will invest in STEAM skills even if they believe that STEAM skills will not be of use to them

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CORRECT IMAGE

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WHICH OF THESE WOMEN IS A Geoscientific?

which of these women is a biologyt expert?

Correct!

which of them has a special drive for astrophysics?

Correct!

who researches about paleoenvironments?

¡Correct!

Not all scientist use lab coats, are geeks or look brainy. Women scientists work in the field and in labs.

Karen Brewer is a Biology expert

Natalia Vartán has degree in Economics and Marketing; and loves: astronomy, physics and football.

@NataliaVartan

@karenexplora

Rebecca Doyle has a PHD in Geography (Enviroment & Sustainability)

Rosie Moore has a M.S. Geoscience and is a Master Freediver

@rosiekmoore

@lake_nerd

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