Mentoring Connections to Advance STEM Education and Careers - SCWIST/MOF

MAKE POSSIBLE - IMMIGRATING WOMEN IN SCIENCE (IWIS) - MS INFINITY

S C W I S T S o c i e t y f o r C a n a d i a n W o m e n i n S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n o l o g y

@SCWISTwww.scwist.ca

Mentoring Connections to Advance STEM Education & Careers

March 2, 2015 Outreach Workshop




A non-profit association that promotes, encourages and empowers women and girls in

science, engineering and technology.

Our members form a strong community of individuals and organizations who make this happen.

Welcome to SCWIST!Welcome to SCWIST!

A non-profit association that promotes, encourages and empowers women and

girls in STEM since 1981.Our members form a strong community of individuals

and organizations who make this happen.




A non-profit association that promotes, encourages and empowers women and girls in

science, engineering and technology.

Our members form a strong community of individuals and organizations who make this happen.

Welcome to SCWIST!

Make Possible Mentoring Program is one of 6 projects funded by the Government of Canada’s Status of Women

to advance women in science and technology.




Project Launch to Explore Mentoring Needs

• What are some challenges that women face in STEM?• What does mentoring mean to you? • Where do you find mentors?• Skills Matching – skills you can share; skills you want to develop

– 6 matches in 20 minutes of Face-to-Face networking




Mentorship Branding Workshop

Keywords: nurturing, helping, direction, friendship, patience, skilled, knowledge, commitment, compatibility, togetherness, journey, expertise, connect, diversity, cooperation, network

Exploring the mentoring brand:• How does mentoring make you feel?• Metaphors – animals, nature• What are buzz words around mentorship?• Let’s get creative – drawing concepts

Common themes:• Growth, self-development & advancement• Human-centered knowledge & support• Collaboration, networking & empowerment




Functional Needs Workshops• Understand mentoring needs, generate ideas & collaborate

– Gather feedback on wireframe prototypes– Different approaches to building online professional profile– Information sharing and privacy issues

• Mechanism to search for mentor/mentee• Preferences for mentoring types, styles and interactions

Follow-up SURVEY of 200 people to confirm mentoring needs• Women have diverse needs for mentoring and want flexibility




lead

collaborate

connect

Prototype Testing Workshops




Make Possible Mentoring NetworkLaunched at BC Economic Forum for

Women as a Catalyst for Growth

MISSION To help women connect, collaborate and lead through a dedicated mentoring network in STEM

VISION A world where aspiration, opportunity and diversity intersect







Make Possible Mentoring Network

Nearly 180 members have joined!• Over 1200 skills• 120 mentoring conversations• New features launched• Share skills and updates• Join Now!

www.makepossible.ca

Connects women from many different organizations and STEM fields: • scientists, technologists, engineers, software developers, professors• undergrads to post docs, early to mid career, managers to board level• unemployed, employed, semi-retired and retired• everyone has unique skills and diverse experience to share




XX Evening – How to Survive & Thrive in a Science & Technology CareerNetworking and Mentoring Connections to Advance Women in STEM Careers

This Year’s Event is March 3rd




MOF’s mission is to motivate and inspire students to pursue careers in STEM by providing resources, leadership & hands-on learning opportunities

• Educators are empowered to create innovative Odyssey programs at their school

• Focus is on personalized learning, 21st century skill development & student-led, project-based learning in STEM

• Students step outside the classroom to explore local industry, create community connections and discover careers in STEM

• Odyssey acts as a catalyst to develop a school-wide culture of science innovation

• Collaborative network of teachers share ideas across School Districts and across BC at annual Odyssey Symposium

MOF Mentoring Connections to Advance STEM Education & Careers




Odyssey Network of Teaching Innovation 79 schools across 34 school districts 50,000 students engaged in STEM Target growth in remote areas




Odyssey Career Discovery: • Leading-edge research & development• Real-world applications & products• Meet engineers & scientists• Understand career paths & opportunities• Create mentoring connections

D-Wave Systems- Quantum Computers

Westport Innovations – Alternate Fuels Technology

General Fusion

CESEI at VGH

Archipelago Marine Research




Showcase Odyssey programs Work together to improve program effectiveness Create a network of Odyssey teachers Hands-on workshops

Odyssey Symposium Professional Development, Networking & Collaboration




Networking activities to create connections

Share teaching resources

Showcase innovative teaching practices

Focus on creating new ways to engage students

Odyssey SymposiumProfessional Development, Networking & Collaboration




Collaboration opportunities with partners

Connect to local industry & community

Explore STEM careers

Turn innovative ideas into action

Odyssey SymposiumProfessional Development, Networking & Collaboration




How Can Outreach Organizations incorporate more career awareness in their programs to inspire students to

pursue careers in STEM???




How Can Outreach Organizations incorporate more career awareness in their programs to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM?• Form small groups of 3 - 4 and discuss for 10 minutes• Record ideas on post-it notes• One person from each group to put ideas on flip charts• Flip Chart Groups: • K – 7 Focus• Grade 8 – 12• Post - Secondary• All Ages – Broad Outreach

Mentoring Connections to Advance STEM Education and Careers - SCWIST/MOF

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