Texas Women and Girls in STEM Summit
Breakout Session 3
1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.
 

Adult and Child Interactions to Foster Engineering in the Early Childhood Environment

Investigation Based Teaching Practices (IBTP) are practical strategies to support thoughtful facilitation of children's learning through open-ended investigative play.  In this breakout session, participants will gain an understanding of the adult's role in the environment to facilitate engineering based learning, how to foster responsive interactions that do not hinder children's play and how to promote intentional provocations.

Presented by: Sidney Gilfillan, Educational Consultant, Kodo Kids

Men as Allies

Findings in the latest Implicit Association Tests show that Women in STEM fields still face significant implicit bias based on their gender. Learn how several leading companies are implementing training programs to help men understand how to engage their female cohorts as partners and how this benefits them and the entire organization, as well as boosting women employees. The panel members will share their approach, their challenges and how to ask for support needed from leadership to achieve this change.

Presented by:
Shon Sandifar, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, 6 Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Caterpillar
Anna Swinney, Business Relationship Senior Manager, Information Technology, PepsiCo
Carietha Taylor, Manufacturing and Assembly Quality Manager, Caterpillar
Mary Flanagan, President, HERdacity (Moderator)

Overview of the miniGEMS STEAM and Programming 2018 Summer Camp

This presentation will provide an overview of the miniGEMS STEAM and Programming Camp Summer 2018. miniGEMS is a free two-week summer camp for middle school girls from Title I schools in grades 6 to 8 held at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio, Texas. The primary goal of the camp is to introduce more female students to the field of Engineering through robotic projects, computer programming, graphic design, and guest speakers. miniGEMS was the first camp in San Antonio for middle school girls that had a special focus on autonomous ground, air, and underwater robots. miniGEMS inspires and empowers middle school girls to be innovative with their future in the fields of STEAM.

Presented by:
Calista Burns, Assessment and Research Coordinator, miniGEMS STEAM and Programming Camp, University of the Incarnate Word
Yvonne Burns, Outreach Coordinator, miniGEMS STEAM and Programming Camp, University of the Incarnate Word
Michael Frye, Director, miniGEMS STEAM and Programming Camp, University of the Incarnate Word

Peer-to-Peer Coaching Program Impacting Retention of Diverse STEM Students

St. Mary’s University has developed a peer-to-peer coaching program to increase the number of Hispanic and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged students enrolling and persisting in STEM.  Through our peer coaching program students are provided personalized high-touch student-centered coaching services by STEM upperclassmen who understand the requirements and demands of pursuing a baccalaureate STEM degree while coming from under-served student backgrounds.

Presented by:
Carmen Cruz, Ed.D., Curriculum Specialist, HSI STEM—Excellence in STEM Education, St. Mary's University
David Zeff, M.Ed., St. Mary's University

 When ALL Means ALL

Explore how to teach and motivate girls from a minority background. Understand how to help them take and stay in challenging courses and select a career, in which they have a lot of room to add a voice. Learn how to teach empowerment workshops and recruit and mentor young girls in your own settings.

Presented by: Clauthia Fields, Why I'm So Loud

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