1. Math Mondays and STEM Girls
NCTM Regional Conference
November 4, 2011
Margaret Wirth, Interim Director
wirthm@ecu.edu
Center for Science, Mathematics and
Technology Education, CSMTE
East Carolina University
CSMTE
2. • East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
• Located in the College of Education and Department of
Mathematics, Science, and Instructional Education
• Over 25 years of outreach service to the region for the
university
• Serves over 24 counties in eastern North Carolina
• http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/csmte/
• Coordinates and collaborates with teachers, faculty, and
community leaders in STEM education
• Located on the corner of 4th and Cotanche Streets
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
3. The mission of the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Education (CSMTE) is to strengthen the STEM education enterprise by:
1. Improving the quality and quantity of K-12 teachers of science and
mathematics;
2. Providing strong experiences in science and mathematics for all K-16
students while increasing the number of graduates pursuing careers in
STEM disciplines;
3. Creating a supportive environment for multidisciplinary research,
evaluation, and assessment while bridging the gap between educators and
STEM professionals; and
4. Encouraging community engagement that leads to increased university
partnerships with school districts, business and industry.
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
4. Center Professional Development
Opportunities for K-12 Teachers
• Training Sessions and Workshops
• Lending Library
• TeachNET
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
5. Applied Mathematics Topics for Everyone
• Martin Gardner and Problem Solving
• Mathematics and Human Performance
• Meet Alice
• Mathematics and Telescope Making
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
6. Martin Gardner - February 28th, 2011 - 5-7 PM
Celebrate the life of Martin Gardner through his variety of games of
puzzles. Also learn how to build a Plinko game and the mathematics
involved. Directions for building games and activities will be included.
Mathematics and Human Performance
March 28, 2011 - 5-7 PM
We will explore how mathematics is used in Exercise Science by
examining the field of Biomechanics. Biomechanics is used to improve
human performance in athletics and clinical populations. Participants
will explore musculoskeletal modeling, the impulse-momentum
equation and the length-force relationship of muscles.
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
7. Mathematics and Telescope Making (Astronomy)
April 25th, 2011 - 5-7 PM
Do you want to stimulate your students into examining the wonder of the
universe? During this workshop, you will learn how to integrate math and
science through telescope building in your classroom. We will show how
you can have your students build a Dobsonian telescope and then explore
the night sky! A building manual and activities will be included.
"Meet Alice" - May 16th, 2011 - 5-7 PM
In the Alice workshop, we will introduce the 3-D programming
environment called Alice. It will be a hands-on workshop for the
participants to learn how to create original animations using Alice
while learning computer programming concepts.
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
10. The Teacher Network is an online collaboration system for the STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers from across
the Eastern region to collaborate on content, resources, pedagogy, and
lesson plans as well as to communicate professional development needs
and questions to the CSMTE Center.
Teachers can sign-in using Facebook, Google, or Yahoo accounts or can
create a new account by clicking the "Sign-Up" link on the webpage.
There is also an app available for free on ITunes for your IPad, IPhone and
other android communication devices.
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
11. • The online lending library is very similar to an Amazon.com experience
• Teachers visit us on-site to check out items for classroom or professional
development for free.
• Click a button to access our OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) and search all of
the resources that are currently available for check-out.
• While browsing our library one can add items to a personal clipboard by clicking
"Add to Clipboard" after viewing a book or searching for results.
• One can click "Clipboard" in the menu bar to print out a list of selections for when
you visit our library for checkout.
• Book and resources are on loan for 2 weeks.
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
12. STEM Girls
Science, Technology, Engineering ,
Mathematics, and Medicine
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
13. Why 8th Grade STEM Girls?
It is all based on research…..
First the studies suggest to attract students into
the sciences and engineering we should pay
close attention to students’ early exposure to
science at the middle grades (and even
younger)(Tai, R.H., Liu, C.Q., Maltese, A.V., &
Fan, X. (2006)).
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
14. There’s Even More Research…..
Secondly, the studies suggest that female role models
with scientific careers may positively affect both
enrollment by girls in high school science courses
and their personal consideration of science careers
(Farland-Smith, 2008; Smith & Erb, 1986).
And lastly, the research on career intervention activities
in mathematics instruction directed at girls does lead
to increased mathematics enrollment by girls
(Farland-Smith, 2008; Becker & Jacobs, 1983).
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
15. 8th Grade Girls Conference
• Invite 100 8th grade girls to campus
• 9AM-2PM university experience
• Chancellor welcome, inspirational opening by a young
scientist
• Five Female Faculty lead round Robin 20-minute sessions
on STEMM topics
• Lunch on campus
• Admissions office posters, STEM Girls T-shirts and stickers,
and Pirate hats
• Closing Activity with origami boxes and “smartys”
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
19. “The MAA Tensor Foundation Programs
MAA Tensor Grant are calling for proposals to encourage
women, girls, and underrepresented
minorities to continue studying
mathematics.
Funding from the Tensor Foundation to
the MAA is used to encourage women
and girls and underrepresented
minorities to continue studying
mathematics to prepare them to enter
mathematics and mathematics-
dependent fields. The two MAA
sponsored Tensor programs- Tensor-MAA
for Women and Girls and Tensor-SUMMA
(Strengthening Underrepresented
Minorities in Mathematics)-will award
approximately $140,000 in 2011 to
college and university faculty to conduct
projects for middle, high school, or
college and university students.”
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
20. Our MAA
Tensor Grant
• $6000
• Day-long Conference in Fall
• Spring visits to schools-Speakers Bureau
• Summer weeklong ½ day STEM institute
• Women mentoring in STEM Careers
• Research on change in attitudes about STEM
careers and high school course enrollment
www.ecu.edu/coe/csmte
21. The Future for STEM Girls
•Continue the Day-long 8th grade
conferences on campus each fall
•Expand a follow up for 9th grade
girls school year mentoring
•Establish a 2nd Summer Institute
for 9th grader girls-full days
CSMTE