Join NSU University School student and program leader for girls in robotics, Ronnie Shashoua, as she talks about Gadget Girls - a project in collaboration with the NSU Alvin Sherman Library, NSU University School, the South Florida Girl Scouts, and sponsorship from the HPCC Systems Academic Program. Gadget Girls is a program aimed at encouraging girls in fourth and fifth grade to explore their interests in and love for STEM, especially robotics and engineering. Shashoua will discuss the underrepresentation of girls in the Florida Vex Robotics circuit, such as how it demonstrates a larger trend of low numbers of women undertaking STEM educational and career paths and the role it played in inspiring the creation of Gadget Girls.
Representation of Women in STEM with Robotics Program
1. GADGET GIRLS AND THE
REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN STEM
Ronnie Shashoua
2. VEX ROBOTICS
Robotics competition and educational program
Standardized parts and sizes
Easily taught to beginners
3. WOMEN IN STEM
Computer sciences in university – 17.9%
Engineering in university – 19.3%
Underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority groups (<10%)
Source: NationalGirls Collaborative Project
More encouragement needed at younger ages
4. SOLUTION
The importance of providing access to technological learning in the community
Modeled off of Math Circles
Cooperation with HPCC Systems® and the
Girl Scouts
5. PROCESS
Creation of curriculum
Fun but functional
Obtaining equipment
Funded by HPCC Systems
Metal, screws, computer, etc.
6. SESSION ONE
Spark interest
Interactive but informative activities
Explanation of basics
How do robots think?
7. SESSIONTWO
Bulk of the intense work
Hands on
Teamwork and communication
Finish robots and project
Intro: hello, name, gadget girls and representation of women in stem
Before I begin, thanks to the following people for supporting me and the program as a whole: Ms. Nelson and Ms. Crawford, Ms. Quinlan and library staff, Ms. Poe and girl scouts, HPCC Systems, and most of all, the Circle of Friends
Vex robotics is the name of the robotics program the Uschool robotics class and team participate in
Explain background in robotics
Explain how got involved in thinking about rep – class ratio, competition ratio, mockery of girls’ teams/girl powered, etc.
Women are incredibly underrepresented in STEM fields all across the board, especially when it comes to everything but life sciences
Racial and ethnic minority groups make up even smaller percentages of the field
Importance of encouraging young girls to continue taking interest – fewer role models, less encouragement in school, etc.
Connect to last slide – can be a toxic environment sometimes – need to find ways to make it safe and encouraging for everyone
Explain the importance of doing something to help rectify this, esp for girls who wouldn’t necessarily have the resources otherwise (this is where money raised by HPCC Systems comes in)
Explain Math Circles and how a possible solution was thought up using that as a model
Explain cooperation with the Girl Scouts – title IX restrictions plus target audience
Creation of curriculum – alignment with girl scouts
- Juggle fun but relevant
Creation of budget – based off Vex resources
- metal, screws, microcontroller, joystick
Explanation of outline of first session
Interactivity and excitement
Induce interest in the program
The main session – lots of hard work, building, hands on activity
Where the hard work pays off – finalization of build, simple coding ideas, presentation of knowledge
Importance of communication of information in STEM, esp. for girl (get an edge)
Robotics checkout kit in maker lab– public library, availability to everyone in the community, making these kinds of resources available in the library means it becomes a place for them to learn and grow and create
Expansion of program -
Importance of reaching more girls who wouldn’t otherwise have access to those kinds of resources that HPCC gave
Importance – so many girls don’t have opportunities to explore these interests and often will never be encouraged. It is our job to ensure that they learn that there is a place for them in the field
Stop by booth 200 in the Interactive Expo after lunch to check out our NASA Rover Launcher robot!