How can STEM teachers inspire more girls to pursue STEM careers?

In my experience as a Black woman and science communicator I have written many things on this topic. Here is my most relevant one. Also, you can check out my TikTok and website to learn more. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mefeyini/overlay/1635472426132/single-media-viewer?type=LINK&profileId=ACoAAAsqoQkBBTEKEsdElrHqS4u7PKkvrp_rY1c&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3Boc90tCVQQIyrnGhhNdih%2FA%3D%3D

As a Latina who pursued a STEM career, the biggest impact for me was my high school chemistry teacher. He made the class so fun and interactive. He even brought his guitar and would sing songs! Once I was interested in pursuing a STEM degree, my high school counselor told me about different STEM majors. That helped me get clarity on narrowing my field of study. Both my teacher and counselor were men, but they were my mentors and role models that believed in me. I did have a female math teacher, but mostly had male teachers in high school. In college, I started having more female professors and female class mates, so I didn’t feel alone but I was the only Hispanic student. Now, I look for a sense of belonging in organizations like SACNAS.

Strong female mentorship is the entire reason why I'm still active in my STEM career. Assign your students a task to reach out to a STEM professional and ask them for a 15-minute Zoom interview about their job and daily life.

Making sure we have role models who are from various backgrounds so girls and young women know that they can do it too. It is one of the reasons why I started the work I do in science communication. I wanted to share my journey as a Black woman in STEM as well as make science more accessible.

Growing up in a rural community (cows far outnumbered people), it was a lack of exposure to STEM fields and careers that was a roadblock for girls and boys. It wasn't until I began my career as an elementary/middle school teacher that I was provided opportunities to explore STEM for myself. Once I had knowledge and experiences to share, I was more confident in talking about, sharing, and introducing my students to STEM topics, opportunities and resources. It is important that higher education provide aspiring teachers with engaging, relevant, and expansive STEM opportunities so they are better equipped to provide valuable STEM experiences to students from their very first day in the classroom.

Highlighting the relevance of STEM subjects by demonstrating their real-world applications and impact is crucial for inspiring girls to pursue STEM careers. Here are some examples: 1. Addressing Global Challenges: Showcase how STEM fields are instrumental in addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty, healthcare disparities, and food security. 2. Connecting with Current Events: Discuss current events and news stories that demonstrate the importance of STEM in addressing contemporary challenges. 3.Personalizing the Impact: Share stories of individuals, particularly women, who have used their STEM skills to make a difference in the world.

Make sure that the guest speakers that you invite to your classroom bust all the expectations that your students may have!!! These amazing women are out there!

Science isn't just a set of facts to learn but a living and practical experience. We need to explore new ways of teaching and learning, innovate our pedagogies. Connecting science with everyday realities is a good starting point to foster interest…

Meninas são conectadas mais preocupadas com temas relacionados a problema do mundo. Desde muito cedo são orientadas ao cuidado e a responsabilidades pelos outros. Por isso, uma estratégia eficiente é conectar o currículo a temas que elas tenham interesse e problemas que elas se mobilizem para resolver( Por exemplo: crise climática, combate a violência, inclusão PCD dentre outros temas)

I believe in New educational models such as TIC in e-learning spaces because the content must be fun and a quality process instead of quantity. That's the main reason to enhance new skills in innovative education and creative content creation.

This is a common struggle. All oppressive stereotypes and biases need to be addressed all at once. We can't help fighting the sexist bias in STEM without fighting the racists, anti-queer, anti-diversity ones. We, as a community, need more diversity in science. Not only do we need more girls and women but more diversity in all aspects. Science is not and has never been made, and should obviously not be presented as such, only by white males.

One of my colleagues, Jillian Worssam developed a marvelous program for her middle-school students entitled "Scientists on the Classroom"by inviting well-know and little known scientists to pair up with on or more students...digitally!

Remind girls that pursuing a STEM career does not mean that they have to stop doing their other pursuits. STEM careers can involve the arts, writing, entrepreneurship etc. We put up a false dichotomy that you either have to be a "left brain" math/science person or a "right brain" artistic/creative person. Creativity is at the hear of genuine STEM. The use of role models, mentioned above, helps to show that women with STEM careers can be business owners, mothers, athletes, artists, journalists, activists, collaborators and so much more.

The issue likely stems from a deeper human tendency: unconscious bias. We all gravitate towards perspectives and experiences familiar to us. This can unintentionally influence how STEM/STEAM education is delivered, potentially perpetuating stereotypes. For example, some may unconsciously associate femininity with less "cool" subjects, impacting the overall learning experience for girls. This can range from the way STEM is presented to the feeling that students must choose between being a girl and being cool. Creating an environment in which everyone can feel appreciated for their differences and delivering them the content through their lenses and perspectives is a key to breaking down the stereotypes.

Address deeply ingrained gender stereotypes and biases in Pakistani society. Encourage girls to challenge traditional gender roles and pursue their interests in STEM subjects, regardless of societal expectations.

Recognising that students have different learning styles is key in engaging a broader audience, including girls in STEM. In my curriculum development, I integrate a variety of teaching methods, such as visual aids, interactive simulations, and collaborative projects. For example, using interactive digital tools that simulate physics experiments allows students who thrive on hands-on learning. To cultivate interest from a young age, I collaborate with primary schools to introduce STEM concepts through fun, age-appropriate activities. One initiative involved a series of "science days," where girls could engage in simple experiments, like building basic circuits or exploring chemical reactions with common household products.

I agree, but there is no mention of encouraging girls to speak to a qualified careers professional who can help young people to reflect on their interests, skills and values and explore how these can inform career decision making.

Provide girls with equal access to STEM education, resources, and opportunities. Offer scholarships, mentorship programs, and extracurricular activities specifically targeted at girls to support their interest and participation in STEM fields.

Teachers can serve as the light that brighten the dark perception about STEM not being for girls. Teachers of STEM can create an all inclusive atmosphere or environment where girls feel safe and confident especially when their ideas are considered during lessons.

Want more women to pursue a career in STEM? 🪝Provide financial incentives: Countries like China and India have provided financial incentives, such as tax breaks and subsidized housing, to attract and retain STEM talent. These incentives can be particularly effective in attracting diverse talent, which can bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the workforce. 🪝Providing opportunities for professional development: Many countries offer opportunities for professional development in STEM fields, such as continuing education programs and mentorship initiatives. For example, Singapore has a program called "SkillsFuture" that offers training and development opportunities to workers in STEM industries.

When I was in middle and high school, it would have been transformational to my mental health and self-confidence if my achievements -however small- were celebrated by my peers.

Celebrate the achievements and contributions of Pakistani girls in STEM through awards, competitions, and public recognition. Provide support networks and platforms where girls can connect with like-minded peers and mentors.

There are many great national organizations seeking to inspire girls in STEM. This includes the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) and Techbridge Girls (both of whom have free webinars and resources on their websites). NGCP has state and regional collaboratives that you can join as well. This AI-generated article (not the contributions) draws heavily (without attribution) from the work of groups like SciGirls and their strategies for engaging girls in STEM. Check those out and the research their strategies are based off of. The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) also has sessions at its conferences about this topic that teachers can attend.

This should include opportunities to collaborate with non-STEM professionals. For example, work with the art department and bring artists into school to help explore problems, for example, water pollution. From this cross-curricular introduction, problem solving could develop.

Collaborate with local communities, parents, and policymakers to promote STEM education for girls. Advocate for policies and initiatives that promote gender equality in education and create an enabling environment for girls to pursue STEM careers.

Remember, as much as we love STEM, not everyone in your classroom (male or female) will want a STEM career. But STEM sectors are vital to society. So help students to understand the non-STEM roles in STEM industries, such a law, HR and marketing. Companies need these employees. Help your students to see they could have an impactful place in a STEM company, even if they don’t think of themselves as a STEM person.