| Girls Get IT! Newsletter |
Volume II Issue
III
October 2007 |
| |
| Explore ~
Educate ~
Empower |
Board of Champions Meeting and Kick-Off
Conference is Shortly Approaching!!
Next month, Girls Get IT! & the Florida Girls
Collaborative Project will be hosting a Board of  Champions
meeting followed by a Kick-Off Conference for local child serving
organizations.
The Board of Champions meeting will take place on
November 8th, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the
Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa, Florida. Items
discussed at the first face-to-face meeting include an overview of
the statewide Program Directory, soon to be administered
Mini-Grants, Strategic Planning, Board Roles and Responsibilities,
and How to get involved.
The following day, November 9th, 2007, the
Kick-Off Conference for local programs will occur
also hosted by MOSI. This event starts at 8:00 a.m.
and will last until around 3:00 p.m. The Kick-Off is open to ANY
program that is involved with in school or after school
programs, gender equity, STEM education for elementary, middle and
high school girls. We encourage everyone who can to participate and
pass the word on!
The goal of the Kick-Off is to allow local programs
to showcase their offerings. Participants will hear an overview
of how to get a Mini-grant, how to become a part of a collaboration,
and to list their program in our online Program Directory. Lunch
will be provided for FREE to all participants. We want everyone to
walk away from this event with a sense of partnership for the Tampa
Bay area between private industry, K-20 education institutions, and
community organizations.
We hope to see as many people as possible at our first
annual Board of Champions meeting and Kick-Off Conference. If you
have any questions or concerns or are interested in participating,
please contact Leah Cook at lcook@distancelearn.org
or (850)
922-9025. |
World Space Expo Coming Soon!!
 The World Space Expo continues to
open up opportunities for the next generation of explorers by
offering them a way to discover and learn about the many different
aspects of space. This year it will be held from November
1st - 4th in Florida at the Kennedy Space
Center in Cape Canaveral. As expected, most of the institutions,
schools, and corporation that are involved are based in
Central Florida.
There will
be many demonstrations and activities for students of all ages to
enjoy during this week of adventure and fun. For example, the
National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration will present Science on
a Sphere, a 3-D interactive
display that gave students insight into how geography, comparative planetology, and
weather tracking data sets are collected, integrated, and
used to study the Earth and other celestial bodies. At the Commercial Space
Pavilion, the X PRIZE Foundation, the Rocket Racing League, and the
Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Commercial Space
Flight are among private space companies who showcase the future of
personal space travel. Dr.
Jimmie L. Davis, Jr., a board member of Space Florida, described the
event as "a high-energy, high-impact event illuminating of
the intelligence of space, the love for space, and most importantly,
the business of space that should inspire the students, invigorate
the teachers, and motivate the workers of the state of Florida." He
went on to say, "The exposition of space has brought us lifestyle
and lifeline changes like Velcro, the microwave, Teflon, ski-boots,
and provided a technical core for computers and the computing age."
Other
activities included a Tour of the Universe, an Air-powered Rocket
Demonstration, and Weather Balloon
Launches. The Tour of the
Universe used high-resolution videos and images that are taken from
the most recent images from Mars and the Moon to captivate the
audience. The air-powered rocket demonstration will show basic
principles of aerodynamics as well as show students on how to build
a rocket of their own at home, under parental supervision, of
course! Finally, student teams from around Florida design,
assemble, and launch high-altitude weather balloons equipped with
video cameras and GPS sensors. Students will be able to track the
flight path the balloon across the State of Florida with the GPS
sensor while the camera on board relayed live video back to a large
outdoor screen at the Visitor Complex.
Florida has become thoroughly involved with the World Space
Expo. "This year alone there will be more than 3,500 students from
30 schools across 14 counties involved from the state of
Florida," continued Dr. Davis. All this program can hope for is
the continuing enthusiasm of its students, and to grow as much as
possible. Click
Here!
|
Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie
Jar?
Solving mysteries is a real
job.
Who committed the crime? When, where and how did it
happen? How long has the victim been dead? What was the cause? What
type of weapon was involved? What evidence was left behind? These
questions, among millions more, come up in crimes such as murders,
burglaries, and violent attacks. After a serious crime has been
committed, a team of forensic science experts must come to the scene
to investigate the event and find answers!
Forensic science experts are the people who find the
evidence and figure out what really happened. (Forensic
refers to debates and legal arguments. The science part is about
coming up with facts and answers to settle the argument). Most
forensic experts work alongside police officers and lawyers to help
solve the mystery. They also work with victims, patients, and
government agencies, and sometimes even testify in court about what
evidence they found to help crack the case.
Forensic science jobs include lots of different areas.
Crime scene investigators work on the spot to find evidence.
Toxicologists work in the labs to help decode what substances were
found at the scene. Beyond that, forensic scientists can even
specialize on specific things like firearms and bullets (ballistics
expert), or someone who's an expert on insects and how to use them
in solving mysteries, such as finding out when somebody died (an
entomologist).
Most forensic science careers require at least
a four year college degree. Within forensic science, there are lots
of jobs you can do, so you have choices about what to study. If you
are inquisitive and determined, love to not only find an answer, but
prove it too, this might be a great area for you to explore. Read
some mystery books, or play some crime-solving computer games. This
field can be fascinating, but it also involves critical thinking and
testing. So the next time someone in the house stole the cookies
from the cookie jar, it's up to you to find out exactly who
did it! For more information about how to become a forensic
scientist, Click
Here! |
|
To
visit GGIT! please click
here | |
Cool Career: Cosmetic Chemist
Looking your best may be as much a science as it is an art -
especially in the makeup  business...
Take a
look at the cosmetics and beauty products you use everyday: shampoo,
lip gloss, nail polish, eye shadow, face powder, mascara, body
lotion, hair spray, and more. Every one of these products is a
chemical concoction created by scientists!
So how
did those cosmetics get crafted? What ingredients are in those magic
potions that smooth away your frizzy hair? Who mixed that perfect
shade of red polish for your nails? What is the difference between
body lotion, body butter, and body cream?
Cosmetic chemists answer these questions among
hundreds more. Whether they work for big famous companies like Estee
Lauder, or at smaller companies that are trying to create something
groundbreaking and new, cosmetic chemists spend their days in makeup
labs mixing, testing, and cooking up the formulas and products that
make us feel beautiful.
Are you
naturally curious? It takes having good, creative ideas and seeing
if you can make them work. It took cosmetic chemists long hours of
hard work in their science and math classes to make sure their
products are not only appealing, but useful and safe too.
You might initially
think that a career in science might be dull and unexciting. Now
think about how cool it would be if you opened up a magazine to see
an advertisement featuring the brand new lip gloss you created in
your lab - yeah, it's all in a days work for a cosmetic
chemist! Click
Here! |
Gloomy Forecast for IT Workforce
 The United
State's global competitiveness may be in trouble as a
growing lack of digital literacy, math, and science skills continue
to plague the nation. These skills are essential to help the IT
workforce grow and flourish. The IT workforce is the fastest growing
workforce in the world, yet there are not enough qualified people to
fill the jobs.
Currently the IT field employs only 3.5 million
out of the national workforce of 141 million, and, according to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it will grow at more than
twice the rate of the overall workforce in the next ten years. The
IT workforce will have a 46% growth rate and provide one out of
every nineteen jobs between 2004 and 2014.
As the IT workforce continues it astronomical growth,
the need for qualified workers is becoming more urgent. However,
America does not seem to be able to produce enough high school and
college graduates with IT capabilities. STEM education needs to be encouraged throughout the
nation.
Cisco Systems, Inc. and The Florida Distance
Learning Consortium forged a partnership with
Florida's community college and university system to develop Girls Get IT. Other companies such as
IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and Yahoo are partnering with schools to
develop technology education programs. Microsoft has developed a
program comprised of three phases to help prepare the future IT
workforce. The first phase, digital literacy, teaches basic skills.
In the second phase, digital fluency, the basic skills are applied.
In the third phase, digital mastery, the first two steps are
combined to nurture advanced skills. Click
Here! |
A Closer Look at Facebook and
Myspace
With a combined 142 million registered users, both
Facebook and Myspace have become household names. Though they have
been around for less than five years, both websites are ranked in
the top eight of global websites, and Facebook is experiencing an
incredible growth of 3 - 4% per week. 55% of American teens ages 12
-17 use either Facebook or Myspace, and 48% visit these sites
daily.
With such large numbers of registered users, Facebook
and Myspace must have something useful to offer. As online social
networks, these websites offer people a chance to stay connected.
Users are able to get in contact with long-lost friends and stay in
contact others who are close to them. Pictures are posted, plans are
made, memories are relived, and thoughts are shared all through
these websites.
Myspace and Facebook offer educational advantages as
well. Both websites have a blogging feature. Users can keep a blog,
updating it whenever they want and writing about whatever is on
their mind. This is a simple and fun way for teens to develop better
writing skills.
Colleges and Universities are also taking advantage of
the Myspace and Facebook phenomenon. Many schools are using these
websites to recruit students. The University of Florida was able to
recruit three students to their graduate program by contacting them
through Facebook. Even Girls Get IT now has a Myspace page. To
become our friend click
here!
Of course safety has been a main concern as Facebook
and Myspace continue to penetrate the lives of the American teens.
But these websites have taken strides to help protect their members.
On both websites, users can set their profile to private, allowing
only their approved friends to view personal information. 66% of
users have set their profiles to private. Users are getting smarter
about what they publish and what they don't publish. As these social
networking websites continue to evolve, their members will too. Click
Here! | |
 If you would
like to forward this newsletter
to a friend, Click
Here! |
|
Florida STEM Program Directory- Register your Program
Today!
The
online Florida STEM Program Directory lists organizations and
programs that focus on motivating girls to pursue education and
careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM). The
purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals
network, share resources and collaborate on STEM-related projects
for girls.
Organizations that serve young women and are
interested in bringing more STEM resources to them are also
encouraged to sign up!
The
Directory contains program descriptions, resources available within
each organization, program and/or organization needs, and contact
information. What
better way to promote your program, resources and find other
organizations in your area to collaborate with?
Having Your Program Listed in the Directory Has
Several Advantages:
- Anyone with internet access can
find out about your program.
- You can view other programs in your
area and across the state.
- Your organization can do a search
and compare needs and resources in your area and across the state.
- Your organization is eligible for a
mini-grant for innovative projects.
Don't wait - Sign up
today!
Here's How:
Use the following instructions to create a new user
account and then enter a program's information into the NGCP
program directory.
- Click
Here!!
- Click "Register New User"
which is located on the far left.
- Fill
out the form and click "Submit"
- On
the next page, click "New Program"
- Fill out the form and click
"Submit"
That's it! Your program will
be listed and can be searched by anyone with access to the internet.
It's that
easy!
Once a new program's information has been submitted
and approved, it will appear in the public
Directory for anyone to search.
What better way to highlight the great work in
STEM that you are doing in your
community!
Note: In order to be eligible for mini grant funding, your
program MUST be listed in the Program Directory. Once listed, you are
encouraged to submit a proposal for consideration of funding. For mini grant submission
guidelines, Click
Here! |
|
Girls CAN Make a
Difference! |
Real Girl
Power: Girls
For A Change enables girls to transform our world and reinvent girl
culture.
Girls For A Change (GFC) is a national organization
that empowers thousands of teenage girls to create and lead social
change. GFC provides girls with professional female role models,
leadership training, and the inspiration to work together in teams
to solve persistent societal problems in their communities.
Girls from around the country participate in projects
ranging from self-esteem workshops, preventing teen pregnancy
campaigns, stopping animal abuse and peer pressure. The best part is
the programs are seeing results - and big ones for that matter. 90%
of GFC girls agreed that despite the fact that creating changes in a
community is challenging, they know they can create change. 80% of
the girls reported that after participating in GFC they now speak up
when things are bothering them.
Girls For A Change provides the tools, resources,
partnerships and support girls need to gain the voice, ability, and
problem-solving capacity to realize their full potential. To find
out more information visit Click Here!
|
Entertainment Makes a Dent in Higher
Education
On September 20th, 2007, the University of
California and the  Motion Picture Association of
America brought over 200 people to discuss "The Expanding Universe
of Internet Entertainment."
Issues discussed included illegal copying of music and
movies, using the Internet as an educational tool, and using the
Internet for business purposes. The goal was for it to be possible
for businesses to be able to use material, but without copying and
sharing it without paying whomever wrote that
information.
The workshop is aimed at sparking people's minds into
discussions about how to integrate the Internet with higher
education with barriers. The workshop explored areas where vision,
strategic interests, and expertise help bring together a sense of
partnership.
The way they managed these discussions was through a
panel. They had four different panel discussions that included
social network and individual behavior, consumption in the digital
age, recent technologies and approaches that give birth to new
opportunities, and frameworks for collaboration.
The main point of the panel was to truly understand
what students want to get out of using the Internet, and how higher
education programs can integrate business with pleasure to engage
students. Click
Here! | |
What is
Girls Get IT?
Florida Girls Get IT is a partnership
between Florida Distance Learning Consortium, Cisco Systems,
Inc., Florida's Community College and University system to
create gender equity in the areas of Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) & Information Technology
(IT).
Why does Florida need this
initiative?
To remain competitive,
Florida must offer a highly trained workforce. Nearly 75% of future
jobs in the United States will require the use of technology, yet
fewer than 33% of students in computer courses are female and women
comprise only 20% of IT professionals and 13% of
engineers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Contact: Leah Cook,
Project Director
Phone:
850.922.3359
Fax: 850.922.3109
|
Useful Links for Teachers,
Parents and Students
Teachers:
HotChalk
Explore a website that automates the work
involved in planning, grading and communicating with students and
their parents. HotChalk makes your job easier than ever before! Click
Here!
FunBrain
This website offers a variety of fun, educational games for the
classroom. Discover new ways to engage your students and make
learning fun again. Click
Here!
Students:
Science Club for Girls
Interested in Science?? Join this Science
Club for Girls!! Check out the website. Click
Here!!
How Stuff Works
It's good to know how stuff works. Learn how anything
and everything works at this cool site! Click Here!
Parents:
This website helps parents with any kind of problem they may
be having with any age group of child. There is even a Father
specific section, so they don't feel left out. Check it out! Click
Here!!
This
website explores the many dark sides parenting a teen may bring.
Everything from eating disorders to depression to religion are
discussed on this website. It offers a lot of information and ways
to help your child. Click
Here!! |
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