Experts point to a number of reasons for this gender disparity, from girls losing interest in STEM by high school despite an earlier interest, to women in STEM leaving their industries due to barriers in the workplace.
It is the responsibility of all – including educators, parents, community leaders, STEM professionals, and policymakers – to support girls’ and women’s STEM passions, from classroom to career.
How can we lend that support?
A great way to start is by asking questions, listening, and learning more about how best to be advocates.
- How can gender-biased words and actions, even if subtle or unconscious, affect students?
- What are barriers and solutions to retaining girls in STEM?
- How can we create learning and work environments that encourage and welcome all?
On Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. ET, please join Dorothy Powers Gorman, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of PLTW, on Twitter for a conversation around these questions and more that address girls and women in STEM by following and utilizing the hashtag #PLTWBB.
About Project Lead The Way
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the nation’s leading provider of K-12 STEM programs. PLTW’s world-class, activity-, project- , problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. More than 6,500 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.
How to Twitter Chat
If you have never Twitter chatted before, don’t worry; it’s very easy. First, get a Twitter account if you don’t already have one, and log in. At 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, go to twitter.com and type #PLTWBB into the search box on Twitter. Thereafter all the tweets with the hashtag #PLTWBB will show up on your Twitter page. To participate, simply express your opinion by sending a tweet, and be sure to append the hashtag #PLTWBB so other members of the Twitter Chat see you are posting.