Fall Forum "Building Capacity through Collaboration"
Saturday, September 29, 2007
9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Education Addition, Room 308
Washington State University, Pullman

This free event will be hosted by the Science Math Engineering Education Center (SMEEC) with welcomes by Dr. John Paznokas, Director of SMEEC, and Dr. Lynda Paznokas, The Boeing Distinguished Professor of Science Education at WSU. Please join us at this forum to gain valuable collaboration resources. Attendees may choose one of the two workshops listed below. There are a few resource table spots still available for programs wishing to publicize their offerings.

WORKSHOP #1: TechREACH is an after school program that provides hands-on experiences for at-risk middle school girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through project-based curriculum, mentoring and real world projects. During this session two veteran TechREACH club leaders will demonstrate a hands-on activity guaranteed to engage girls in the world of electronics! Participants will learn how to make a connection with circuits and pathways by using an electronic lab box to build simple circuits and learn about the different components involved.

WORKSHOP #2: This workshop on program evaluation for STEM projects will include a discussion of methods and an opportunity to "evaluate" your own data collection. We will look at how data are collected and the benefits and drawbacks of each method, including quantitative and qualitative strategies. Learn how others evaluate their programs, peruse sample tools, and take time to assess how your program is evaluated and how it could be improved. We will also discuss how to effectively report and use findings.

To register:
http://www.erasurvey.org/websurvey/NWGCPNE T.htm

NGCP OCTOBER WEBCAST
Tools for Collaboration Success: NGCP Mini- Grants
October 10, 2007, 11:00-12:00 PDT
Sometimes great ideas and new collaborative projects need a little help getting started. In this interactive webcast you'll learn how to create collaborations using NGCP mini-grant funding. Mini- grants are designed to support collaboration, assessment activities, projects related to addressing gaps and overlaps in service, and sharing promising practices. Past mini-grant recipients will share inspiring stories and outline strategies for successful partnership and program development. Mini-grant application basics and requirements will be presented. Since 2002, the NGCP has awarded over 100 mini-grants to organizations in California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin that support girl- serving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused programs.

To register:
http://www.ngcproject.org/events/webcast.cfm

NASA Engineering Design Challenge - Bring Space Into Your Classroom!
As NASA plans to return to the moon, plant growth will be an important part of space exploration. NASA scientists anticipate that astronauts may be able to grow plants on the moon in specialized plant growth chambers. Come participate and build your own lunar growth chamber in the NASA Engineering Design Challenge! Students will be able to design, build, and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers, receive cinnamon basils seeds flown on STS-118, and test lunar growth chambers by growing and comparing both space-flown and earth-based control seeds.
http://www.nasa.gov/education/plantchallenge

SOAR with Science Back-to-School Mini-Conference
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Museum of Flight
Kids love science! You don't need to have a Ph.D. or a million dollar budget to have fun teaching science in your program or school. This special mini-conference includes an amazing line-up of organizations with a wealth of resources and easy-to-do activities. Participants will have firsthand exposure to new ideas and materials that will lead to relevant connections for all children and youth. The cost is $40 per participant in order to be affordable for programs and budgets of all sizes.
SOAR Conference Details

YWCA GirlsFirst Seeks Mentors
The YWCA GirlsFirst program seeks a diverse group of compassionate and life-experienced women to be volunteer mentors. YWCA GirlsFirst is a year-long leadership program for high school girls of color facing social and economic barriers in King County. This is a unique opportunity for you to make a difference in the community by helping teens define and achieve their personal goals. Commitment is for one year, approximately 10 hours/month. Information sessions are in September, and the program begins January 2008.
http://www.ywcaworks.org/girlsfirst

Math Integration Workshop
November 2-3, 2007
Marriott Seattle Airport Hotel
This workshop is presented by OSPI and WA-ACTE and will provide the "how to" of integrating math and Career and Technical Education. To register:
http://www.wa- acte.org/about.html

Survey of Informal Education Programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics (STEM)
If you run an informal education program that includes STEM components, we invite you to participate in a study on promising practices in STEM informal education by completing an online survey. The survey is geared toward past and current informal education programs (such as after-school programs, conferences, or summer programs) that serve K-12 girls (including co-educational programs) and have aspects related to STEM.
http://www.erasurvey.org/input/girlsinstem.htm

Bridge from School to Afterschool and Back Conference
October 22 and 23, Vancouver, WA.
You'll find all the information you need online, including detailed listings of the keynote speakers and workshop topics. There are scholarships available for Washington State programs.
http://schoolsoutwash ington.org/index.cfm? fuseaction=page&sectionid=60

NGCP Webcast Archive: Good Assessment = Success: Developing Assessment Based Outreach Activities
Barbara Bogue and Rose Marra, co-founders of the AWE (Assessing Women and Men in Engineering) Project, presented a webcast about developing assessment based programs and gaining access to instruments that get at more than participant satisfaction. Access the archive of this webcast:
http://learningtimes.mmalliance.acrobat. com/p71053704/

Science Friday Podcast: Women, Girls, and Math
Harvey Mudd College President Maria Klawe was a guest on National Public Radio's (NPR) Talk of the Nation: Science Friday program on September 21, discussing women and mathematics with actress and mathematician Danica McKellar (a.k.a. Winnie on the "Wonder Years" TV program), who authored the book "Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail." Listen to the podcast at: Science Friday

Americ an Association of University Women (AAUW) members across the country are serving as Regional Liaisons for the National Girls Collaborative Project. These Regional Liaisons help the people involved in the NGCP to make connections - to one another, to resources on gender equity, and to AAUW.