Exploring Collaborations: Successful Strategies for Increasing Equity and Access to STEM Strategy Session 1: Overview and Game Plan 1

Mission Partners 2 #GAMES4STEM

GAMES Mission Develop one or more really fun and engrossing games that will, along with other STEM strategies, make a real impact in helping influence more girls to pursue STEM careers. 3 #GAMES4STEM

Problem Statement STEM graduate shortage in region + nation Research demonstrates that by grade 9, over 80% of girls have turned away from an interest in STEM careers While there are many great efforts to increase the number of girl pursuing STEM careers, the medium of gaming is not yet a powerful tool in the STEM effort Research demonstrates that games can change how players view themselves and their future potential 4 #GAMES4STEM

Key Steps + Timetable to GAMES Initiative 1.Launch – June Organize 5 working groups, leadership structure, NGCP role, and GAMES Logic Model Planning Tool 3.Develop fund-raising strategy for campaign 4.Conduct initial research/review as well as NSF grant proposal on GAMES STEM Community 5.Carry out national Game Jam process to NGCP girl members + others to develop great game concepts and plots – Spring-Fall GAMES Judge: Select proposals for 20 game prototypes; develop and field test prototype games with NGCP girls – Jan-December Evaluate results of field tests; GAMES judges select 2-3 games for full production and FREE distribution 8.GAMES girl players move into GAMES community; long-term monitoring begins 5 #GAMES4STEM

How GAMES Will Accomplish Its Ambitious Goal – Working Groups 1.People – build a regional + national network of skilled people committed to GAMES – our Networking Group 2.Research + Assessment – understand the challenge, analyze the relevant data, and craft data-driven approach to the design + implementation of GAMES 3.Gaming Expertise – involve gaming leaders in decisions of strategy and the Game Jam, vetting, and production and distribution of GAMES 4.Resources – develop the funding base needed to carry out research, production, and distribution of GAMES projects 6 #GAMES4STEM

Logic Model Purpose + scope How we use it 7

Research Working Group Formative research + literature review (conducted by NEU computer science researchers): Links gaming to STEM career pathways and defines parameters for games Ongoing external evaluation: develops assessment tool, creates a long term GAMES Community and leads to a longitudinal study of girls + STEM careers Questions for today: 1.What can we learn from past efforts to develop games to promote girls interest in STEM? 2.What 4-5 protocols or guidance should we incorporate in any plot or game proposal? 3.How do we most effectively approach gaming companies to look at the their research data on girls + gaming? 8 #GAMES4STEM

Fundraising & In-Kind Support Working Group Develop in early 2014 and implement a campaign plan for fundraising and supporting: Research and evaluation, game development, marketing and dissemination. We estimate a need for total of $5,000,000 over the next 3- 4 years to implement GAMES Questions for today: 1.What group/foundations do you suggest we consider approaching for GAMES? 2.Do you think major companies in our region would be interested in being founding sponsors? 3.Do you think gaming companies in our region will be open to helping fund GAMES? 9 #GAMES4STEM

Networking Working Group Builds the supply of committed volunteers to advise on + support all stages of GAMES Works closely with the NGCP to build a national network of girls engaged in GAMES process, leading to a GAMES community Questions for today: 1.What other skilled professionals/groups in gaming, STEM, girls advocacy, and others should we be reaching out to? 2.How can we tie the GAMES initiative to other great STEM work underway in our region, both in gaming sector and in STEM fields? 10 #GAMES4STEM

Girls Expertise and Advocacy Working Group Monitors and assures authenticity of girls' engagement throughout the GAMES Initiative: integration and application of knowledge about girls, STEM, and gender. Includes girls from diverse backgrounds, locations include; advocates and educators working with girls in multiple environments. Questions for today: 1.How do we best ensure that our GAMES Initiative keeps a laser like focus on girls and STEM careers? 2.How do we most effectively engage girls from diverse backgrounds? 3.How to get girls maximum participation along the way, and solicit ideas from the group – without getting too distracted from critical path progress 11 #GAMES4STEM

Game Development Working Group Develop and implement Game Jam to select 20 prototypes for further development and testing (using NGCP programs). Two polished games produced and accessible at no cost on multiple platforms. Questions for today: We will discuss options in our next session strategy group at 2:15 PM 12 #GAMES4STEM

Next Steps Your input will help us move working groups and games formed in 2014 Our website, northeastern.edu/gamesinitiative, is now online - use it to sign up to help Come to our strategy session at 2:15 PM today to brainstorm how we structure our Game Jam, game design, and production process, and discuss platform + distribution issues 13 #GAMES4STEM