Discussion+Questions


 * Discussion questions:**


 * [|//Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics//] - a report published by AAUW in 2010 **

8:30 Opening session and keynote speaker - Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore; update from Molly Rumsey on the Online School for Girls.

10:15 Discussion groups by discipline. //Suggested topics will be proposed by Dr. Hrabowski. // - Dr. Hrabowski: The example of the student who was "hungry in her soul for support." How do we best offer the support that our students need? - Dr. Hrabowski: "We need to develop group work that is meaningful, challenging, and nurturing." How do we do this? What does this mean within our independent schools?  - Dr. Hrabowski: "[ Independent schools] set a standard for the rest of society?" What should that/those standard(s) be? What are they currently?

11:15 Discussion groups by division //Suggested topic: How can we develop a passion for STEM in our students? How do we encourage girls to focus on the effort rather than the result? How can we begin to apply Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset ideas? //

12:00 Lunch – school tours at 12:25

1:00 Discussion groups by discipline //Suggested topic: How can we overcome stereotypes and negative self-assessments that keep girls from considering STEM fields? Share ideas for role models. What can we do when we get back to our schools to address this? Any way to collaborate on ideas? //

2:00 Jigsaw groups mixing disciplines. //Suggested topic: Test your own implicit bias about women and STEM at~ ////https://implicit.harvard.edu////~(select Demonstrations and then proceed to Gender-Science or Gender - Career). Do we need to work on our own biases? How do we help parents and others in our schools and communities to be more aware of the messages we/they are giving our students? //

3:15 Discussion groups by discipline (original groups) - Tie up loose ends from prior discussions.

<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> **//<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">We will provide shuttles to/from Green Hills Hampton Inn //** <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> 8:00 Breakfast
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Friday, November 12, 2010 **

<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">8:30 Keynote Speaker - Dr. Linda Swarlis, Columbus School for Girls

<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">9:45 Discussion groups by division //<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Suggested topic: Where are we making spatial connections currently in our curricula? What changes could easily be made to help our girls with their spatial abilities? What changes would be more difficult? What are the roadblocks to implementation? //

<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">11:15 Discussion groups by discipline //<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Suggested topic: How well are we doing with the recommendations Dr. Swarlis made for girls and technology? What more can/should we do? //

<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">12:30 - lunch //<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1:15 - What are my top 5 takeaways? How can they be implemented when I get back to my school? Are there any collaborations that can help with implementation? Who needs to be on board and how do we get them engaged? How do we get from here to there? //

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Possible Additional Discussion Areas

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">What does it mean to educate girls in the best ways possible for the 21st Century? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">- How should the classroom be different than when we were in school? o <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">What should be the same? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">- How does our understanding of the brain impact the ways that we teach girls? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">- How have your schools changed their pedagogical approaches over the past few years to reflect a new set of educational needs? o <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">What are your plans to change in the future?

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">What should the learning environment be in the 21st century for girls? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- What role does hands-on and project-based learning take? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- What types of facilities will we need to create great classroom experiences and what types of technology will we need? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- What role should online learning play within girls’ schools? o <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">What role can “blended learning” classes play?

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">How can schools and departments manage change in the best ways to support new learning objectives? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">- How can we best manage and engage in change in our departments and schools? o <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">What practices have worked well and not so well for schools? o <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">What roles do school administrators and teachers play in managing change? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">- What administrative support do we need to manage change within our departments?

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">How should professional development look within our schools and departments to support new learning objectives? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- How can we create and e nable 21st century professional learning communities? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">- <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">How can we cultivates teachers’ ability to identify students’ particular learning styles, intelligences, strengths and weaknesses? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">- <span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">How can we helps teachers develop their abilities to use various strategies to reach diverse students and to create environments that support differentiated teaching and learning?

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Do our standards need to change for our students? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- Do we need to emphasize greater depth over breadth in our curricula? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- Should our standards be interdisciplinary? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- How can we engage our students in real-world problem-solving while still ensuring that they gain the skills that they need for success in college and beyond? <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">- How can we work together across STEM disciplines to meet our learning objectives and standards?