AAUW Annual Conference GIRLS ON TRACK SARAH B. BERENSON CRMSE NC STATE UNIVERSITY MEREDITH COLLEGE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION Sponsored in Part by the National Science Foundation http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

INTRODUCTION Prologue: A Fable Research Finding about Girls Audience: Strategies for Girls from Research Findings Girls on Track Program Epilogue: A News Story http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

A FABLE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? DUKE? DUCHESS? GATE KEEPER? http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

NATIONAL PROBLEM UNDER-REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS CAREERS. AMERICAN WORK FORCE SECURITY ISSUES http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

SOCIAL PROBLEM Women earn 70 - 78% of Male Salaries Children’s socio-economic status Waste of human resources http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

ONE SOLUTION If girls stay on the fast math track into college they will be prepared to major in STEM careers. http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

GIRLS ON TRACK PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 1-WEEK TEACHER/COUSELORS WORKSHOP 2-WEEK SUMMER CAMP FOR GIRLS FALL TUTORING SPRING MENTORING http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

GIRLS’ INTERESTS PEOPLE SOCIAL ISSUES COMMUNICATIONS http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

RESEARCH FINDINGS Proportional Reasoning is HIGHLY correlated with high test scores in Algebra 1 60 miles in 1 hour and traveling at a constant rate, how many hours to travel 600 miles? http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

RESEARCH FINDINGS Girls have very high expectations for themselves Girls work hard to achieve expectations Girls perceive teacher quality as essential to their success Girls are supported by parents and teachers when learning is difficult http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

RESEARCH FINDINGS Girls are more confident, interested, and motivated to study math than teachers and counselors think they are. Tchrs/Counselors Girls mean sd mean sd Interest 19.86 2.42 23.37 3.75 Motivation 19.05 2.29 22.37 3.83 Confidence 19.45 2.37 22.87 4.03 http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

SUMMER CAMP Teams of 6 : 2 camp counselors Sports Algebra Group vs Individual Efforts) Sports Algebra (Need to have Fun) Community Problems Math is Relevant/Useful http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

SUMMER CAMP Computer Lab Time Creative Expression and Useful Tools Team Presentations Confidence before Audience Career Speakers Information Peer Assertiveness Confidence in School http://ontrack.ncsu.edu

A NEWS STORY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? HUSBAND WIFE FRIEND http://ontrack.ncsu.edu