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Session 2530

A Contemporary Science and Engineering Program for Middle School Girls

Sohail Anwar Penn State Altoona

Abstract

Various research literature shows that women face numerous workplace related problems ranging from sexual discrimination and inadequate work skills to balancing work and family life. Although women are working hard to meet the workplace demands and challenges, they still face the need to acquire workplace “survival” skills. Basic educational skills are sufficient only for a limited number of jobs in the future workplace. More effort is needed to raise women’s skills in mathematics, science, and technology if women are to be able to compete.

This paper describes a pre-college science and engineering education program conducted every year at Penn State Altoona for middle school (7th and 8th grades) girls and their teachers. The program is designed to address each one of the above mentioned skills. The objective of the program is to expose middle school girls to careers in science and engineering. In addition to providing a detailed description of the program, the paper analyzes the outcomes of this program. Recommendations for further improving the effectiveness of the program are also given.

I. Introduction

Various research literature shows that women face numerous workplace related problems ranging from sexual discrimination and inadequate work skills to balancing work and family life. Although, women are working hard to meet the workplace demands and challenges, they still face the need to acquire workplace “survival” skills. Because women are underrepresented in the workplace and are a disadvantaged group, they need encouragement to be able to decide and stand firm in their decisions to enter and fit in to the workplace. They must rely on themselves rather than on institutions to create careers. In addition, they must have portable career assets, skills, and professional reputations that can be applied anywhere. Basic educational skills are sufficient for only a limited number of jobs in the future workplace. More effort is needed to raise women’s skills in math, science, and technology if women are to be able to compete. More specifically the skills that women need to succeed in the public domain of work include: 1. Proficiency in basic math, sciences, and technical skills 2. Creative thinking 3. Goal-setting 4. Learning to learn 5. Personal and career development skills 6. Leadership skills 7. Teamwork 8. Communication skills 9. Interpersonal skills

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Anwar, S. (2000, June), A Contemporary Science And Engineering Program For Middle School Girls Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8237