MPWG: Developing Gender-equitable Science Activities for Girls through University-based Service Learning for Women

该项目将设计、实施、评估和传播一个独特的示范项目，目的是：(a)在课外环境中展示能够激发小学生兴趣并给她们带来挑战的科学活动，同时为她们提供榜样；(b)帮助女本科生和研究生提高她们的科学/技术专长和自尊，为她们的技术知识提供一个有价值的出口。该项目由爱荷华大学科学与工程女性（WISE）项目和爱荷华东部科学女性协会共同发起，爱荷华城市社区学区和爱荷华城市地区科学中心公司合作。三个团队将设计科学课程包，每个团队由一名女性教职员工或博士后科学家或工程师，一名科学中心的女性代表和4-6名女性本科生和研究生组成。科学教师将担任教育顾问。每个课程包将包括一套围绕不同的多学科主题开发的性别平等科学活动。科学主题是对课堂课程的补充，而不是重复。每个课程包中的活动将包括：(a)简短的探索性活动，可以在15分钟或更短的时间内完成；(b)较长的活动，至少需要30至60分钟才能完成；(c)可以由学生在家完成的扩展活动，无论是否有家长参与。活动将使用无性别的语言，需要在小组中实践经验，发展研究技能，与日常生活相关，非竞争性，并支持不止一个正确的结果。这些活动既适合女孩也适合男孩，对女孩来说比传统的科学课程更有效。科学课程包将包括：(a)食用化学（K-1年级），(b)脑力（2-3年级）和(c)遗传学（4-6年级）。每个团队将在爱荷华市和周边学区的课外环境中（例如，课前和课后日托项目；为低收入家庭提供服务的社区中心；小学科学俱乐部；诸如女童子军、营火和4-H等俱乐部；以及社区科学项目）向小学适龄男女学生展示这些活动。设计团队将评估每个活动的有效性，并做出适当的修改。该计划将惠及三个群体：(a)小学女生（和男生），(b)女大学生，(c)女专业科学家和工程师。该项目将提高家长和教育工作者对中学性别问题的认识；将科学教育置于社区环境中；把大学的科技资源延伸到社会；提高女性科学家和工程师的知名度。

This program will design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a unique model program for: (a) presenting science activities that will interest and challenge elementary school girls in extracurricular settings while providing them with role models; and (b) helping female undergraduate and graduate students improve their scientific/technical expertise and self esteem by giving a worthwhile outlet for their technical knowledge. The project is co-sponsored by the University of Iowa Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program and the Association of Women in Science- Eastern Iowa Chapter, with the cooperation of the Iowa City Community School District, and the Iowa City Area Sciences Center, Inc. Three teams, each with one female faculty, staff, or post-doctoral scientist or engineering, one female representative from the science center,and 4-6 female undergraduate and graduate students, will design science curriculum packets. Science teachers will serve as educational consultants. Each curriculum packet will include and integrated set of gender-equitable science activities developed around a different multi-disciplinary theme. The science themes will complement, not duplicate, the classroom curriculum. Activities in each curriculum packet will include: (a) short, exploratory activities that can be completed in 15 minutes or less; (b) longer activities that require at least 30 to 60 minutes to complete; and (c) extension activities that can be completed by students at home with or without parental involvement. Activities will use gender-free language, require hands-on experience in small groups, develop research skills, relate to daily life, be non- competitive, and support more than one correct outcome. Such activities are appropriate for use with both girls and boys, are more effective for girls than traditional science curricula. The science curriculum packets will include: (a) edible chemistry (for grades K-1), (b) brain power (for grades 2-3), and (c) genetics (grade 4-6). Each team will present these activities to elementary school-aged girls and boys in extra-curricular settings (e.g., before and after school day care programs; neighborhood centers that serve low- income families; elementary school science clubs; clubs such as Girls Scouts, Campfire,and 4-H; and community science programs) in Iowa City and surrounding school districts. The design teams will evaluate the effectiveness of each activity and make appropriate modifications. The program will benefit three groups: (a) elementary school girls (and boys), (b) female college students, and (c) female professional scientists and engineers. The program will increase the awareness of parents and educators of gender issues in SEM; place science education in a community context; extend the scientific and technical resources of the university into the community; and increase the visibility of female scientists and engineers.