Sg2009wc:youth

From She's Geeky Wiki

Title: K-12 Youth Programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math:

Session: 4-C Bay Area Jan 2009

Convener: Jill W

Attendees:

Notes:

10 significant programs for young people:

1. Biggest: FIRST LEGO League: Middle School About $800 for a team of up to 10 kids. Season is September to December / January. About 30% girls involved. In 2008/2009, over 130,000 young people participated in over 40 countries.
2. FIRST Robotics: High School. Entry fee for a team is $6k. Teams have 6 weeks to take a kit of parts and build a working robot to solve a challenge.
3. FIRST Tech Challenge: Upper Middle to High School. About $1200 for a team to compete. For up to 10 kids.
4. Botball: Upper Middle to High School. About $2500 for a team to compete. Kit of parts handed to team.
5. BEST: High School program. Free for teams – all costs with regional organizer
6. MATE: High School / College program. Underwater robotics.
7. Vex Robotics: Upper Middle to high school. Teams spend on average $1500. Run by Innovation FIRST
8. Tech Challenge: < $100 for a team. Elementary through High School divisions. Run by Silicon Valley Tech Museum
9. Anita Borg Institute has run workshops for junior high to high school girls
10. Group in Massachusetts ran some “longitudinal” programs tracking youth to determine how to make impact with respect to STEM careers. Run by Andrea Wright and Merle Bruno.

Discussion centered on how to link “cool” careers to education/curriculum. There is a lack of relevancy to Algebra 1 to gaming for example. Also, how to update the curriculum to engage girls (Chemistry to focus on comparing composition of shampoo versus burning things).