Tech-Xploration, A Technology Adventure for Teen Girls
To address the under-representation of women in the technical workforce, NJCATE has initiated a project funded by the National Science Foundation entitled Tech-Xploration, A Technology Adventure for Teen Girls.
The three-year project, composed of summer camps with year-long follow-up activities, will inspire and empower young women who are about to enter their sophomore year of high school with the knowledge, skills, confidence, academic preparation and interest that females need to aspire to engineering technology careers.
Tech-Xploration, through its comprehensive program of concentrated summer work coupled with tutoring and mentoring by female professionals in scientific and technical fields, and academic year follow-up, will address the under-representation of females in engineering technology. NJCATE's Adventure Ride Learning Module will be used as a guide for the Tech-Xploration student projects. The module integrates problem solving, teaming, and communication skills with technical components. Tech-Xploration will:
- Increase participants' interest and knowledge of technical careers and inspire the confidence to pursue them.
- Increase participants' knowledge base in math, science, technology, and communication.
- Increase the awareness of students and their parents, teachers, and guidance counselors of the viability of technical careers for females
Young women will engage in the adventure of scientific discovery through the design, development and construction of a hands-on engineering project based upon the use of an interdisciplinary module developed by NJCATE. The module incorporates science, technology, engineering and mathematics instruction. Teaming, problem solving and communication skills are developed. Engineers and technicians will familiarize the participants with the technology underlying theme park rides so that they can apply this information, along with learned scientific concepts, to their projects.
Physical empowerment will supplement the intellectual component with karate instruction as an integral part of the summer camp. Through karate, young women will gain strength, discipline and a sense of confidence.
This project will have a critical impact on the future technical workforce. The project not only addresses the causes of female non-participation in engineering technology but also targets students from minority and/or economically disadvantaged school districts who often do no receive the same academic preparation as the rest of the population. Through these initiatives the number of majority and minority women in engineering technology fields will increase.
When: Summer Camp - July 6 through July 31, 2009
Where: Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ
For more information or an application, contact:
Josephine Lamela
Middlesex County College
2600 Woodbridge Avenue
Edison, NJ 08818
jlamela@middlesexcc.edu
Ph. 732.548.6000 x3007
