Group Innovation Project Presented By: “The Educators” Members: Sharell Armely-Edwards Krissa Johnny Teneka Hector

Executive Summary This project was undertaken by The Educators to provide an updated solution to the SITCOM – “Stimulating IT Careers for wOMen” – project, which sought to encourage young women between the ages of 12 – 16 years to enter careers in the fields of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Science and Engineering, via role playing and games. The updated solution which is titled “Caribbean Girls STEM It Up!” is a collaborative month long campaign which is geared towards schools in the Caribbean region through a variety of activities using various avenues for promotion. By the end of the campaign it is anticipated that the issues which plague Caribbean schools with respect to career choices in the STEM field by young women will be reversed and more young women will develop interest in the STEM field.

Introduction To The Innovation The innovation is based on collaborative methods used to encourage girls’ interaction around the Caribbean and to expose them to the STEM fields in an engaging and exciting manner. Our innovation of the Caribbean Girls STEM It Up! program provides innovative, strategic planning and client focused activities throughout the month. This is achieved by tapping into a reservoir of minds and hearts, thereby generating creative thinking and problem solving skills by linking ideas and learning and turning them into practical solutions through the use of STEM subjects. The month's activities will be promoted in the hopes of raising girls’ awareness as to the advantages of careers in the STEM field and the need for Caribbean women to take more interest in them.

Supporting Evidence For Innovation The following websites were used in support of the innovation: https://www.facebook.com/stemcaribbean

http://www. ngcproject. org/sites/default/files/jwm- v14-2008pp119-140 http://www.ngcproject.org/sites/default/files/jwm- v14-2008pp119-140.pdf

http://scigirlsconnect.org/

http://www.coolsciencecareers.rice.edu/ http://www.fi.edu/girls/cascading-influences.pdf

http://vk-server2.donau- uni.ac.at/~sitcom/platform/index.html

http://www. stabroeknews http://www.stabroeknews.com/2012/features/in- the-diaspora/08/27/science-technology- engineering-and-math-stem-and-the-caribbean- science-foundation/ http://www.caribank.org/uploads/publications- reports/lecture-series/DeLeon_WGDemas.pdf. http://www.isoc.siu.no/isocii.nsf/searchall/88E0B3 250EBE00DAC12570AD00314DD9 http://www.jhuapl.edu/mesa/resources/docs/what weknow.pdf

Innovation Mock-Up and Explanation Solution: STEM Collaborative Campaign with concentration in Caribbean Region. Title: Caribbean Girls STEM It Up! Vision: To encourage more girls to join the STEM field and make a viable contribution to the Caribbean society.

Mission: To promote an equal playing field for Caribbean girls in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); preparing and inspiring generations of young female learners to meet the challenges of the Caribbean society as well as globally through innovation, collaboration, and creative problem solving to become a success.

Outcome of the campaign: To make people of the Caribbean society cognizant of the issues that plague our schools with respect to culture and gender career choices in the STEM fields. Ideas to be included in the campaign: STEM month in the schools i.e. a month of activities with a culminating celebration, with all activities being completed by girls.

Creation and dissemination of pamphlets and flyers Activities include: Film Festival Short films Documentaries Films will depict everyday items we use made possible because of the STEM fields. Creation and dissemination of pamphlets and flyers Best pamphlet competition In-house competition where students and teachers will vote for winning pamphlet

Guest Speakers (Conference) International and regional speaker Discussion on experience in the field Video conferencing Interviews Male teachers to gather insight of the opposite sex Women/girls who were studying in the STEM field and dropped out Women in the STEM fields in the region All interviews will be conducted by the girls participating in the campaign

STEM onsite field trips Simulation – link to SITCOM’s website Games SITCOM simulation Tournament Fun-fact quizzes All questions will be geared towards STEM fields School challenges STEM onsite field trips Simulation – link to SITCOM’s website

Avenues for promoting the campaign: Webpage Weebly Facebook Manpower for promoting the campaign: Students Teachers Administrators Guidance counselors Volunteer partners Club members and advisors Parents

Feedback From Audience Two focus groups were held with teachers and students concerning the innovation. The characteristics of members of the focus groups were as follows: Teachers: Females who teach Science, Mathematics and Computer Science Students: Females of Grade 9, aged 12 – 13 years, enrolled in Science, Mathematics and Computer Science c courses

The following feedback was received by teachers and students: The use of games and more fun activities for the month long initiative A social aspect to the STEM month activities such as a sleepover Mission was not very specific to the project Disagreement in the use of a male perspective

Suggestions to interview female teachers Suggestion to interview women who were studying and those who had previously dropped out of a course in the STEM fields Making students responsible for all activities All teachers believed that the innovation was feasible and would yield the expected results All students agreed that they would participate in the activities

The End