WAMC: The Best of Our Knowledge # 1018 (2010-03-22)

The Best of Our Knowledge

The Best of Our Knowledge # 1018

(2010-03-22)

Listen Now:

null

ALBANY, NY (WAMC) -
"TECHGIRLZ USES HANDS-ON STEM ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE YOUNG GIRLS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING"

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH IN DISABILITIES EDUCATION SERIES

"ACCESS TO ADVANCEMENT: AN AUDIO EXPLORATION OF THE NATIONAL EFFORT TO INCREASE THE ROLE OF WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS" -

There's a summer camp held at a university that strives to attract middle-school girls with hearing loss to science and technology. The camp is called TechGirlz. It features activities inside and outside the classroom. Not only are there lots of hands-on projects designed to make the subjects fun, but there are plenty of social activities too. For some of the girls, it's the first time they're with other girls their age who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. In this exclusive report, TBOOK was granted unlimited access to the week-long camp with our embedded science and technology correspondent.

Allison Dunne reports. (15:45)

If you would like to hear this story again, or other similar stories in our exclusive radio series, visit our Women in Science website, www.womeninscience.org, and click on "Access to Advancement." You'll also find links to our Facebook page
and many related topics.

If you would like more information on the TechGirlz program featured, or perhaps you're thinking about applying for this coming summer's camp, click on this exact hyperlink: http://www.rit.edu/ntid/techgirlz/

We also invite you to view photos, access resources, and chat with others who are interested in women, disability, and STEM issues by joining our Women in Science Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60729571543&ref=ts

And you can receive updates on the availability of new stories on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/AccesstoAdvance

"Access to Advancement" is supported by the National Science Foundation
Research in Disabilities Education Program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions
or recommendations expressed in this story, are those of the authors, and do not
necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.

STEM EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND -

The University of Maryland at College Park continues to be considered a national leader in STEM education and programs.

When college of education officials began planning an event to talk about trends in teaching science, technology, engineering and math, they guessed that maybe 20 or so industry leaders might attend. To their pleasant surprise, some 90 corporate representatives plus private and public educators came to the January 28th program.

That kind of turnout demonstrates the growing interest in STEM education on campuses all across the nation. Indeed, the Obama administration has challenged states to compete for those Race to the Top funds for education reform. And the president also just doubled the amount of money earmarked for STEM initiatives.

The University of Maryland, College of Education, holds and annual media day where TBOOK had an opportunity to interact with one of their professors about STEM. This is Dr. Leigh R. Abts, Research Professor in the College of Education, and also an Affiliate Professor in the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

Glenn Busby reports. (3:30)

© Copyright 2012, WAMC