Jill Bramble’s Post

Sharing this report on youth and STEM learning in afterschool.

NetApp recognizes that breaking down barriers and dismantling inequities in STEM education is essential for empowering the next generation of innovators. NetApp’s unwavering belief in the power of a diverse workforce to drive innovation and societal progress has led us to extend our commitment beyond the corporate realm and into the educational sphere.     “Improving Diversity in STEM Education,” by Michelle Mann, sheds light on our collaborative efforts with educational institutions, community organizations, and passionate individuals who share our vision. Our commitment goes beyond mere words—we invest time, resources, and expertise to make a lasting impact. Our approach isn't just about fulfilling corporate responsibility; it's about cultivating a rich and varied ecosystem that nurtures young minds, regardless of their backgrounds, to become future leaders and change-makers.      Diversity in STEM isn't just a goal; it's a driving force behind our pursuit of excellence. Together, we can shape a brighter future where every student has equal access to opportunities, and innovation flourishes in the fertile soil of diversity.      Read more about NetApp's journey in promoting diversity in STEM education and how you can get involved in this transformative movement: https://lnkd.in/dkYq-XHB    #DiversityinSTEM #STEMEducation #NetAppImpact #InnovationMatters  

🌟 Exciting Highlights from the Innovation Education 2024 Conference! 🚀 Yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Innovation Education 2024 Conference, a gathering filled with educators, policy makers, and industry innovators who are all committed to transforming the future of education. One of the standout moments was Dr. Leena’s inspirational keynote speech on "Innovating for ALL Students", which left a profound impact on everyone present. Dr. Leena eloquently shared her vision on breaking down the barriers that students with disabilities, Latinas, Black students, and other historically marginalized groups face in accessing STEM pathways. Her message wasn’t just about inclusion but about actively creating educational ecosystems where every student can thrive and innovate. Here are a few takeaways from her speech that have me thinking deeply: 🚨Intersectionality in STEM Education: Understanding that students don’t fit into a single category and addressing the multifaceted barriers they face is critical. Dr. Leena’s call for an intersectional approach to inclusion in STEM hit home for many of us. 💡Innovative Learning Tools and Strategies: She highlighted groundbreaking tools and strategies that tailor learning experiences to diverse learning needs, showing us that innovation is not just about what we teach but how we teach it. 🎗️Building a Community of Support: The importance of fostering a supportive community around students, where their identities are affirmed, and their potential is nurtured, was a powerful reminder. It’s not just about individual success but lifting each other up. 🎬Actionable Commitments: Dr. Leena didn't just inspire; she called us to action. She stressed the need for educators, administrators, and the tech community to make concrete commitments toward inclusivity in education. This speech was a clarion call to all of us in the educational field to reevaluate and reaffirm our commitment to an education system that innovates for all students, without exception. It’s a reminder that when we create pathways for the most marginalized, we open doors for every student to succeed and innovate. As educators and innovators, it’s crucial that we carry forward this momentum. Let’s embrace Dr. Leena's challenge to innovate with purpose, ensuring that our efforts today lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape tomorrow. Let's start the conversation: How are you innovating for all students? #innovate24 EducationPlus #stemeducationforkids

We’re delighted to partner with Maynooth University, Science Foundation Ireland and the Department of Education — Ireland to expand STEM Passport for Inclusion nationwide and help provide 5,000 post-primary students in socially disadvantaged communities with access to STEM skills and careers. The initiative is designed to encourage more young women to consider a career in STEM through mentoring, educational supports, and a pathway to achieve a Level 6 accredited (NFQ) STEM qualification. 1,250 female students have participated in the pilot programme since its launch two years ago, leading to a significant increase in the students’ confidence and intention to pursue STEM education at third level. As we skill up the next generation of digital leaders, it is critical that everyone, irrespective of gender, background or socioeconomic status, has equal opportunities to thrive in the workplace and wider society. Read the blog by James O'Connor below to learn more. #MicrosoftIreland #SkillUpIreland #STEMPInc #Inclusion #DiversityAndInclusion http://msft.it/6040iPdTE

It’s Giving Tuesday. Support our STEM programming for our youth. Here’s why… African Americans make up just 9% of the STEM workforce in the U.S. Improving STEM education is a priority for the Urban League of Palm Beach County. This year, our STEM Expo Celebration brought together dozens of middle school students who showcased their projects and told us how their experiences made them more confident as students and young adults. They also expressed an interest to take part in more STEM experiments, field trips, and other educational opportunities to learn about this growing industry. STEM is very much in demand. According to The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, America will need to add a million more STEM professionals to meet workforce needs by the end of 2023. African American youth are the least likely racial group to enter technology fields based on data from U.S. Department of Labor. Please donate and help us create more STEM programming to prepare our youth for future STEM career opportunities: ulpbc.org/donate

In our conversations about creating equitable access to STEM education, we often discuss the "leaky STEM pipeline" – a metaphor for the obstacles that underrepresented folk face on their journey through education in STEM. While efforts to plug these leaks are crucial, we must also confront a stark reality: this pipeline leads into a toxic pond. The toxic pond" represents higher education institutions and the STEM workforce, environments that were not designed with Black, brown, and other historically underrepresented folks in mind. These are places where, despite our best efforts to push through, many find themselves grappling with the same systemic issues that plague our communities, alongside a pervasive feeling of not belonging, and/or are working on technologies that cause harm to our communities. Addressing the leaks is just one part of the solution. We must also detoxify the pond. This means fundamentally rethinking and reshaping the cultures, practices, and structures within STEM higher education and industries to be truly inclusive. If we're serious about equity in STEM, our mission cannot stop at merely guiding more underrepresented students into these fields. We need to ensure that once they arrive, they enter spaces that acknowledge their value, respect their contributions, and offer genuine belonging and opportunity. This is not just about fixing a pipeline; it's about transforming the very landscape it feeds into, ensuring it nourishes rather than diminishes. #Plantingtheseed #workforce #stemeducation

"As recently as 2018, a quarter of U.S. high schools with the highest percentage of Black and Latinx students did not offer Algebra II, a prerequisite for many higher-level STEM courses and the key barrier to college graduation for most Americans, and a third of these schools did not offer chemistry. Black and Latinx students are often denied access to limited seats in advanced courses, particularly in racially diverse schools where they are not the majority. STEM curricula and materials prioritize the stories of STEM contributions made by white men, and minimize, omit, or perpetuate harmful stereotypes about the knowledge and history of STEM leaders of color. More than half of U.S. school districts, and more than 90 percent of districts primarily serving Black and Latinx students, reported difficulties recruiting and retaining certified, knowledgeable STEM teachers. As a nation, we are actively discouraging students of color to seek a quality STEM education." If you have a moment, give this article a read. It is time to bring underrepresented students into the STEM fold! https://lnkd.in/gefC6wkR

Good day, all. Please see the request below; In South Africa, not more than 13% of women choose to study in STEM disciplines, and globally, not more than 30%. The under-representation of women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) is of great concern in South Africa. Despite the efforts made by the government to improve access to education for learners from previously disadvantaged communities, South African Black women are still under-represented in STEM fields. The majority of secondary school learners, particularly young girls from needy backgrounds receive education under difficult circumstances. As a result, they exit the secondary education system poorly prepared for further studies with little or no information. The InnovateHER: Empowering Young Women to Pursue a Career in STEM fields project is aimed at encouraging and supporting young South African women in grade 12 (final high school year students) to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We will have a full day of speakers engaging with students on varsity and workplace readiness, how we can effectively bridge the workplace and education gap in STEM, and design thinking sessions as well as career guidance sessions. The event will be attended by 30 high school girls in grade 12 pursuing science subjects, as well as industry leaders in STEM. This is part of the take-a-girl-child-to-work initiative scheduled for the 30th of May 2024. The event will take place in Johannesburg. I know there is a So what happens after the event question that donors and investors often ask. Following the successful Innovate HER event, we are pleased to announce the upcoming publication of the EmpowerHER booklet, designed to support and empower young female leaders in STEM fields. This comprehensive resource will provide valuable guidance and inspiration for Matric students interested in pursuing STEM careers, offering essential tips and insights tailored to their academic and professional journeys. With a focus on nurturing the next generation of women in STEM, the booklet aims to equip students with the necessary tools and motivation to excel in their studies and future careers. We look forward to sharing the booklet with all stakeholders and leveraging its content to make a positive impact on aspiring female STEM leaders. We need the following outstanding items to make the event happen; 1. Transportation of 30 students to Johannesburg for the event (13 will be coming from Limpopo and 17 from Gauteng surrounding areas) 2. Goodie bags for the students 3. Videography to record the events of the day 4. Catering We will also offer advertising space on the day, including our platform African Female Voices I have tried reaching out for sponsorship without any luck. If you can assist kindly email info@africanfemalevoices.com

Every year on November 8, we celebrate National STEM/STEAM Day. STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, was introduced in the early 21st century to promote education and careers in these fields. In recent years, STEM has evolved into STEAM, with the addition of the "A" for Arts. Arts education is crucial as it enhances the learning experience for children, making it more engaging and exciting. Despite the fact that women make up half of the workforce, less than 25% are in STEM jobs. This gender gap highlights the need for greater inclusion and diversity in STEM fields. Junior Leagues internationally are dedicated to making a positive impact in their communities, and many have community programs that focus on STEM/STEAM education. To learn more about the significance of arts in education and how Junior Leagues have contributed to this cause, visit this link: https://bit.ly/462JAfs

STEM PUSH thinks about STEM through the lens of racial equity. Equity is the approach with which the Network reviews all work, processes, learning and research. Book studies help STEM PUSH leaders examine how to make pre-college STEM programs more culturally sustaining for Black, Indigenous and Latina/o/e students. Check out the latest book list shared at STEM PUSH’s Fall 2023 convening aimed at pushing the Network to get closer to more equity in STEM: https://lnkd.in/dxU2VH3J