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WattsUp pg.2
AppsolutelyFabulous pg.4
MakerNetwork pg.5
Thank You,Chevron pg.6
Why Role Models Matter pg.7
LIKE OUR NEW LOOK? LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
For families & friends of Techbridge November 2012
This summer, Techbridge introduced 45 girls to video game design with a five-day Summer Academy in Oakland and Concord. The academy, which was supported by Chevron, lived up to its name—the League of Extraordinary Gamers.
By mastering Gamestar Mechanic, a game-making tool that uses
an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, girls were introduced to game
design. They learned about creating rules
and working through the engineering design
process. As game designers, they improved
their games by inviting others, both online
and in the classroom, to test their programs
and provide feedback.
For our Summer Academy, we recruited a
range of girls, from those who love to play
games online to those who don’t engage
much with video games. By the end of the
week every girl had designed a video game
League of Extraordinary Gamers
and many were interested in careers in technology. One girl reflected,
“I finally felt I could beat games!” Before, she had always needed her
brother’s help.
“I learned that you can do anything…as long
as you put your mind to it,” said a Summer
Academy attendee. A week of game design
not only helped boost the girls’ confidence,
but also encouraged several of them to want
to learn to program. If given the opportunity,
more girls will become computer scientists
and design video games, and in turn, inspire
the next wave of girls to pursue computer
science.
“A week of game design not only helped boost the girls’ confidence, but also
encouraged several of them to want to learn to
program.”
2
techbridgetalk
Programs Office. With funding from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation,
the Noyce Foundation, and Chevron, Techbridge trained summer
staff in Oakland and Concord to teach science and engineering activi-
ties about energy and conservation to nearly 600 youth.
The four-week summer program made science fun and engaging
through projects that allowed youth to apply science to their own
lives. As a culminating project, groups conducted energy audits in
their schools and brainstormed ways to promote conservation in
classrooms. These youth are gaining knowledge and skills to contrib-
ute to their own greener future.
This past summer, youth in Oakland and Concord learned about energy production and consump-tion and their impact on the environment through Techbridge’s Watts Up? Conservation and Energy Program.
Research shows that a lack of summer enrichment opportunities
accounts for nearly two-thirds of the ninth-grade achievement gap
between economically disadvantaged youth and their more afflu-
ent peers. Participating in summer programs like Watts Up? can
help close this education gap. It can also give youth the chance to
explore new interests. One student commented, “What I liked about
my summer science activities is that we learned about new science
things we haven’t heard about.”
In an effort to provide fun and meaningful summer enrichment op-
portunities for local underserved youth, Techbridge teamed up with
the Partnership for Children and Youth, the Oakland After School
Programs Office, and the Mount Diablo C.A.R.E.S. After-School
Watts Up? Summertime Fun with Science and Engineering
echbridge is expanding its footprint, reaching into communities near and
far. In this issue, you’ll read about how we are training staff in Oakland and Concord to introduce science into after-school and sum-mer programming. This fall, our computer science and engineering activities are being introduced to middle schoolers in New York City by The After School Corporation.
Our partnership with Girl Scout councils con-tinues to thrive. Girls Go Techbridge—now 15 councils strong—brings our projects to girls who might not otherwise have the chance to
practice the engineering design process or meet an electrical engineer.
From leading trainings in Lima, Peru to shar-ing curriculum with educators in Micronesia and Abu Dhabi, Techbridge is helping girls around the world. We are in need of the imaginations and talents of these girls to help with today’s challenges and STEM can support them in leading the way. Not only do these partnerships allow us to expand our reach and mission, they give us the chance to revisit what we do and keep innovating.
We can’t accomplish all that we do without amazing partners. Our mighty staff of 16 is supported by an array of advocates—role models who inspire, teachers who motivate, and parents who encourage their daughters to make a difference through STEM.
I look forward to this school year –our 13th year hosting programs for girls. I hope that you can join us in inspiring girls to change the world.
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
T
“...youth are gaining knowledge and skills to contribute to their
own greener future.”
37% 18%
1985 2010
Why Techbridge?
17%chemical engineers
10%civil engineers
7%electrical and electronics engineers
7%mechanical engineers
Too little time spent teaching science
K-12
College
Workforce
The Techbridge Impact
12.4%
47%
3.1%
94% 87% 95%
% of girls said they believe engineering is a good career for women.
97%
40% of elementary schools in California spend less than 60 minutes teaching science each week, some none at all.
(WestEd, 2011)
12.4% of U.S. women who received bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2010. (National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2010)
3.1% of U.S. underrepresented minorities pursuing engineering degrees. (National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, 2010)
After Techbridge programs, participants cite the following gains on their annual evaluations:
Decline of bachelor’s degrees awarded to women in computer science.(National Science Foundation, 2010)
California ranks 47th in science22% of 8th graders tested on a national science test passed in California.
(National Assessment ofEducational Progress, 2012)
Techbridge offers 120 minutes per week of hands-on, inquiry-based learning in science, technology, and engineering.
Techbridge builds skills and confidence in science – 84% of girls said they are more confident in science because of Techbridge.
Parental influence is important21% of girls were encouraged to be an actress and only 10% were encouraged in engineering by their parents.
(American Society for Quality, 2009)
94% of Techbridge parents surveyed encourage their daughters to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering.
Women make up 47% of the overall workforce, but are much less represented in STEM occupations. (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011)
% of girls said field trips and role models made them more interested in working in science, technology or engineering.
% of parents agree that their daughter is more interested in a career in science, technology, or engineering.
% of Techbridge teachers see girls demonstrate more confidence about their science, technology and engineering skills.
3
4
techbridgetalk
Techbridge Travels to Peru Early this September, Techbridge Program Coordinator Jenni-
fer Diaz went to Lima, Peru to facilitate our first international
program. The U.S. Embassy in Peru collaborated with the U.S. State
Department to support Jennifer’s weeklong trip to Lima and Puno, a
small lakeside town.
Jennifer was accompanied by embassy employees Jorge Aguelo
and Melissa Schumi Jones, who organized the trip. Together,
they led the first hands-on workshop at Colegio Industrial
#32 for eager middle school students from around Puno.
They investigated science myths like pulling a tablecloth
out from under tableware, and spinning a bucket of
water overhead without spilling a drop. Teachers from
neighboring schools joined Jennifer later that afternoon
to work on similar interactive activities and to discuss
how to bring hands-on learning to their schools. Jennifer led a work-
shop at the school in the Islas de Uros in Lake Titicaca for excited
elementary school children. While in Lima, Jennifer challenged a
group of high school students from Colegio Mayor and the Instituto
Cultural Peruano Norteamericano to build
paper structures that could hold up to
a weight test. Youth collaborated
together to design and develop
ideas that would make any
engineer proud to see.
At Techbridge, we are
excited about our inter-
national reach, and look
forward to forging more of
these partnerships.
Appsolutely Fabulous
At 3:45 p.m. at Lighthouse Community Char-ter School, middle school girls head to Ms. Kretschmar’s classroom to begin working on an engineering challenge.
The girls are responsible for designing a tool that can carry a golf ball
covered in “toxic” materials from one end of the classroom to the
other. Their challenge is to not touch the ball and to use limited re-
sources, including skewers, paper clips, and post-it notes. To increase
the challenge, they only have 20 minutes to complete this task. “This
isn’t fair,” one girl says, “real engineers would have way more time to
design tools.” “Very true,” Gauri Vaishampayan, Program Coordina-
tor, responds, “but like real engineers, you also have real deadlines to
meet.”
We are excited about our new partnership with Lighthouse; this year,
we are also continuing to work with 15 other schools in Oakland, San
Jose, Concord, and San Lorenzo. Programs are in full swing and girls
are diving into topics ranging from chemical engineering, mobile
phone app invention, and product design. “This has been one of our
strongest starts to the school year yet,” says Matthew Hurley, Tech-
bridge’s Director of Programs. “Our schools are truly ensuring as many
of their students as possible have opportunities to engage in STEM.”
Along with new programs and partners, we are developing new cur-
riculum that uses App Inventor. This online resource was developed
by Google as a programming tool for the Android platform. Now
hosted by the MIT Media Lab, it has grown into a tool for developers,
Cont. on back page
5
November 2012
What is making? It’s an approach to learning and doing that
engages students in hands-on projects connected to science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts. Young makers
are encouraged to create their own designs, tinker, and use their
imaginations.
This year, Techbridge is participating in the California Informal Sci-
ence Educators Makers’ Network, sponsored by the S. D. Bechtel,
Jr. Foundation. Network partners met in the spring and fall at the Ex-
ploratorium to share best practices and engage in making activities.
“Young makers are encouraged to create their own designs, tinker,
and use their imaginations.”
I had received scholarships to attend the
NASA Ames Robotics Institute as well as the Summer Science and Engineering
Program at Smith College in Massachusetts. I felt very lucky to have been involved in Techbridge because it gave way to other
great opportunities! – Susana Tinoco
After learning about the physics of kite flying and making our
own kites, we went out to the open lot at Chabot Space and Science Center to see our
creations soar. It was a beautiful moment when our kites, hand-painted and crafted, mingled
in the air above us. It was one of my many great memories with Techbridge!
– Teresa Trinh
My favorite Techbridge moment would have
to be the green design house. Every-thing about the project was exciting:
getting to choose the materials directly from the store, designing the layout of the rooms including
doors, windows, and furniture using the design software AutoCad, actually building the rooms, and working
together with my Techbridge friends. – Jenny Bayley
My favorite Techbridge moment was family night at Unity 2009. I had the opportunity to share with my mom what I had learned in Techbridge, and show her a roller coaster that my group made. I also enjoyed going on the fieldtrips, like Carollo Engineers and Yahoo. I felt very inspired and extremely encouraged to pursue a higher education. –Maria Perez
We were given the assignment in small groups to make a short video that encouraged recycling by detailing the journey of a bottle cap. As I am pursuing a career in sustainable product design, this video has come to mind many times over the years. - Cindy Bayley
Techbridge Alumnae Responses
What was your favorite Techbridge moment?
Techbridge Joins the Maker NetworkMany Techbridge projects are aligned with the principles of making.
In the South Bay, girls put their creativity, design skills, and green
knowledge to use as they collaborated with partners to make models
of their future “green” dream homes. The houses were showcased
during family night events. At the It’s Electric! summer workshop,
girls engaged in making activities
that included building electronic
toys. Making activities like these
encourage creativity and persis-
tence. As one aspiring Electrical
Engineer, Rutu, said, “…don’t get
frustrated when your project
doesn’t work [at first]. Just keep
on trying… you just have to be
really patient.”
techbridgetalk
6
Thank You, ChevronAs we reflect on all that has been accomplished over the past year and how our continued growth has enabled us to serve more girls, we feel deeply grateful to those who have helped make this possible.
We would like to thank Chevron, who has been a valued partner of
Techbridge since 2008. Not only has its financial and programmatic
support helped us to provide high-quality after-school programs and
summer enrichment to underserved girls, but we are also fortunate
to have the leadership of Jane Doty MacKenzie, Chevron’s Gen-
eral Manager for
Workforce De-
velopment, who
serves as Chair
of our Board of
Directors.
Over the past five
years, Chevron
has opened its
doors and hosted
nine field trips.
These trips en-
able our girls to
experience first-hand the exciting work environment of STEM profes-
sionals as they solve real-world problems. In addition, our girls have
benefited from the support of over 40 employees who generously
give their time, volunteering as role models, both at our school sites
and during field trips.
When fifth graders at Wren Elementary School visited Chevron last
February, the girls learned about geology and how it relates to Chev-
ron’s work. They were invited by scientists to join in an experiment
with plant materials to see which ones produced the most ethanol.
As always, these role models showed girls how important science
can be in their futures.
In addition to these commitments, Chevron has also partnered
with us on advancing our family outreach. They generously funded
reprinting our Science: It’s a Family Affair – A Guide for Parents, which
we distribute to our Techbridge families, partners, and community
organizations. Thanks to Chevron’s support, Techbridge continues to
thrive, serving hundreds of girls and their families each year.
SupportTechbridge
Techbridge is changing lives, one girl at a time. Join in helping empower girls to realize their dreams through science, technology, and engineering. Please make a tax-deductible donation by using the envelope included in this newsletter, or go online at www.techbridgegirls.org/Donate.aspx. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.
Stephen Bechtel Fund
Chevron
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
The National Science Foundation
The Noyce Foundation
Amgen Foundation
Cisco Foundation
Google Community Grants Fund of Tides Foundation
Intel
Gregory and E.J. Milken Foundation
SanDisk Corporate Fund An advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Yahoo! Employee Foundation An advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Autodesk
The Clorox Company Foundation Fund of the East Bay Community Foundation
Communities Foundation of Oklahoma
Motorola Mobility Foundation
Paul Scammell Foundation
Stellar Solutions
Swinerton Foundation
Techbridge Sponsors 2012
November 2012
7
One sunny day in Houston after a networking event, an aerospace engineer remarked, “I never thought my job could seem so exciting to young girls.
I hosted a fieldtrip and I thought it would be too technical and boring, but the girls loved it!”
Role models can influence a girl’s interests, motivation, and even the development of her
identity. Through the Role Models Matter project, funded by the National Science Foun-
dation, Techbridge is working collaboratively with our partners, Girl Scouts of Northern
California, Girl Scouts of Central Texas, Girls Scouts of Central Maryland, Girls Scouts of
West Central Florida, the Society of Women Engineers, and the National Girls Collabora-
tive Project to develop customized resources and trainings that enhance the role model
experience. From developing inquiry practices and asking questions to portraying a positive
message about engineering, the resources and training all support the development of effec-
tive role model practices.
The Role Models Matter project has covered a lot of ground this year with trainings in Con-
necticut, Texas, Virginia, Boston, Alabama and California. At the Texas Girls Collaborative
Project training in Houston, one participant remarked, “I realize now that the smallest factor
can make an impact.” The most exciting development for Role Models Matter is coming
this November at the Society of Women Engineers conference in Houston. There we will be
piloting an online training platform for role models and partner organizations. If you would
like more information about the Role Models Matter project or resources, please contact
Why Role Models Matter
Role models can influence a girl’s interests, motivation, and even the development of her identity.
Thank You, Chevron
Board of Directors
Jane Doty MacKenzie, Chair
Lyn Gomes, Secretary
Luci Tyndall, Treasurer
Kim Ondreck Carim
Amy Connors
Linda Kekelis
Laurel Lee
Reena Singhal Lee
Alex Zwissler
Staff
Linda Kekelis, Executive Director
Martha Bauman
Megan Davis
Jennifer Diaz
Matthew Hurley
Jennifer Joyce
Roshni Kasad
Molly Larkin
Emily McLeod
Shuby Narayanaswamy
Martha Pena
Katie Sidorsky
Eliza Smith
Gauri Vaishampayan
Jennifer Wei
Erica Wong
Designer
Karas + Lawrence
Printer
Thank you to Solstice Press for its generous contribution to help print this newsletter.
www.solsticepress.com
Want to Know More?
www.techbridgegirls.org
510.777.9170
Get social with us!
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twitter.com/techbridgegirls
students, and educators to immerse them-
selves in mobile programming. Support from
the Motorola Mobility Foundation enabled us
to develop activities for high school girls. They
became user interface designers and software
programmers for Android smart phones, and
developed apps. Girls were intrigued to see
that programming, while seemingly rigid,
actually allowed for a great deal of creativity
in solving problems.
At Mount Diablo, giggles filled the room when
successful apps recorded and played back the
girls’ voices. At Oakland Tech, girls learned
about the tilt, orientation, and acceleration
sensors in phones then built apps and placed
phones in a waterproof bag on a submers-
ible Remotely Operated Vehicle. One group’s
app used the phone’s tilt sensor to measure
whether the ROV was upright. If the phone
(and ROV) was tilted beyond 45 degrees, it
would text back up to the surface “I’m tip-
ping right!” or “I’m tipping left!” The satisfied
smiles on the girls’ faces when their apps
began sending information to them on the
pool deck showed that they knew their hard
work had paid off.
One girl at Oakland Tech noted, “Computer
science sometimes frustrates me. It seems
so complicated. But this is exciting to make
things that I can see how they are really used.”
As we build upon this curriculum, we look
forward to all our girls seeing how rewarding
and creative technology can be.
We are honored to be selected as a recipi-
ent of Silicon Valley Education Founda-
tion’s 2012 STEM Innovation Award. This
national competition recognizes the best
and brightest thought leaders and pro-
grams in Science, Technology, Engineer-
ing, and Math from across the country.
Techbridge received the Science award for
our innovative programming for girls.
Techbridge Receives STEM Innovation Award
cont. from Appsolutely Fabulous
7700 Edgewater Drive, Suite 519
Oakland, CA 94621
