The Gender Factor: Girls in STEM education
If Unique Perceptions and VASS were to partner up for something, I feel like this would be the result.
And while I may not be an expert on the services that Unique Perceptions provides, I definitely know VASS. VASS is definitely trying to push the growth of STEM opportunities in our schools in Virginia.
PS for more on Unique Perceptions Services check out http://aortathence.tumblr.com
Source: engineeringdegree.net
So, in response to what I had written yesterday, with all my worries and such exploding out of me, I received an email today from my client with a large folder full of high quality photos along with links to video footage, testimonials, and copies of the videos themselves.
I’ve also been linked up with a few schools, so that way I can email teachers, students, and even parents to get their individual points of view on VASS.
There is the point of view of one particular student that I would love to get. I’ve heard her back story, and because of what I’ve heard already, I think that she would make an amazing candidate for a testimonial of how VASS has helped her.
Ok, that’s it for today, I just wanted to say, that while I was freaking out yesterday about not having anything, now I’m overwhelmed by the amount of information I have, and I’m definitely more comfortable with that.
*shh.. don’t tell anyone, but I kind of like being overwhelmed and the pressure that goes with it, I find that my work is better*
One week…
It is one week until CreateAthon. ONE WEEK!
Ok, so *deep breath* I thought I was prepared, a little anxious of course, but prepared.
I’m looking over emails with my nonprofit now, one’s that are coming in more frequently than ever before, and I’m starting to freak out a bit. I feel really unorganized, which is probably contributing majorly to the freaking out.
I have all this stuff that I want to do for VASS, and all I’m thinking right now is “what if I don’t have the right materials from them, so I can’t provide the best work, or even the work they need??!“
I’m waiting on getting pictures from them. Body copy. Necessities for the printed works. Web necessities. And along with those, some of the extras that I’ve asked for.
I’ve also tried to get a hold of students at some of the schools that VASS works with, and haven’t heard back from any of them, which is really freaking me out. I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!! GET BACK TO ME ASAP!
I want to hear stories from the students p.o.v. (point of view). I want to hear stories from the schools’ p.o.v., and even the teachers’ p.o.v.
I especially want to hear stories from the board members’ and STEM job providers p.o.v. I feel like the stories from the STEM job providers would be some of the most interesting, since they’re not a point of view we hear often when it comes to education.
ok. I’m done with the freaking out rant now.
What is ‘education’?
What is education?
-For many, the term ‘education’ strikes memories (either good or horrific) of school.
But I think to really understand what education is, we need to dig deeper than just memories.
-Definition:
- The act of process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
-
The result produced by instruction, training, or study: to show one’s education
ok, so first off, I’m going to say, BLAND!
There is absolutely nothing about those definitions that makes the term ‘education’ endearing in any way.
This is how education should feel to people.
The term ‘education’ shouldn’t be dreaded by any means.
Let’s look at education in a different way to help get this point across.
-The knowledge that you gain everyday, from simple curiosity of looking a topic up or finding out a random fact like “hyperventilating before getting in the water allows you to hold your breath longer underwater”, contributes to education.
-Expanding your education takes very little effort. (Yes, there is effort involved, but not as much as you may think.) A simple question is a great way to expand your education. Ask yourself a question, something you’re curious about, something you actually want to know. And here comes the effort… Find out the answer!
I can guarantee that you’re most likely gaining an education every single day. You may not realize it, but if you’re learning, you’re gaining an education.
Teller Reveals His Secrets
Magic is a science…? That’s one interesting way to look at the field of science.
What kind of demonstrations pull you in to the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)?
Have magicians been inadvertently studying neuroscience for ages? Teller, of Penn & Teller, weighs in:
“Magic is an art, as capable of beauty as music, painting or poetry. But the core of every trick is a cold, cognitive experiment in perception: Does the trick fool the audience? A magician’s data sample spans centuries, and his experiments have been replicated often enough to constitute near-certainty. Neuroscientists—well intentioned as they are—are gathering soil samples from the foot of a mountain that magicians have mapped and mined for centuries.”
The science of tickling
Today’s random topic that has to do with the basics of STEM education: Behind everything in life, science or math is there in some way.
This article isn’t as much related to CreateAthon as it is to the field of science within STEM education. The interesting things that are out there to learn…
Tickling and being ticklish is actually way more interesting than I expected. The reason is because scientists have discovered that not only is it a neurological response to some forms of touch, but it can also be a learned behavior. One thing is for sure, a lot of information about tickling can be found in our evolutionary past.
According to Robert R. Provine, a neuroscientist and author of Laughter: A Scientific Investigation, tickling is a “mechanism for social bonding between close companions. It helps forge relationships between family members, friends and lovers.” I read a very interesting article on Popsci about the topic this week called FYI: What Is the Evolutionary Purpose of Tickling. That article highlighted many interesting aspects about tickling including:
- You cannot tickle yourself
- Tickling could be where the origin of laughter begins
- In children, tickling can hone reflexes and self-defense skills
- Your brain tells you that it is inappropriate to tickle a stranger
- Laughter in response to tickling is learned in the first few months of life
- At about age 40, we stop tickling and typically lose interest in that activity
- The face-to-face activity during tickling opens the door for other forms of interaction
- The most ticklish parts of the body are the most vulnerable during combat (feet, chest, neck, armpits)
Some people who are very sensitive to touch might react differently to tickling than someone who is not as sensitive. This is just the same as some people might hear or taste things differently than others. For some people, tickling and laughter are learned defense mechanisms used in certain situations if they feel uncomfortable. It often lightens the mood. If you close your eyes and concentrate during a tickle attack, you actually have the power to dull the sensation itself. Fascinating, isn’t it?
tidbits
The U.S. Bureau of Statistics projects that STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs will increase by over 20 percent in the next five years alone, but the U.S. is now finding a lack of young adults interested in science careers, further deteriorating the country’s global competitive edge.
I’m thinking that, as well as posting about CreateAthon, I’m going to make daily posts about the fields of STEM (a different topic within that field each day of course).
- so be on the lookout for things you didn’t know or even interesting little things that go along with the areas involved with STEM, the first day for this is tomorrow, I hope you’re ready!!
