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Conference Program

The Why the Difference? conference on best practices was designed to build skills in teaching K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The conference, presented by the Center of Excellence in Women, Science, and Technology at the College of St. Catherine, aimed at affecting engagement and achievement of students of STEM, particularly girls and students of color.

Center for Women, Science and Technology. The goal of the CWST is to increase the number of women and people of color entering into STEM majors and careers. With a few exceptions, women's representation in STEM disciplines drops off dramatically when women transition from high school to college. Few people of color have strong enough skills and knowledge in STEM to be competitive in STEM fields. The conference is supported by generous grants from the General Mills Foundation and Bigelow Foundation.

...
...Conference Themes

Collaborative Learning
Inquiry and Activity-Based Learning
Gender Issues
Real World Contexts ... ... ... ...

The conference program centered around themes of best teaching practices that relate to greater achievement in science, technology, engineering and math. The themes were inquiry and activity-based learning, collaborative learning, gender issues, and real world contexts.

Nationally and locally renowned speakers introduced these topics in plenary sessions, which were followed by breakout sessions. These workshops, mostly led by faculty at colleges of education and K-12 teachers, focused on implementation of the best practices. They contained examples of implementation and opportunity for teachers to discuss new approaches.

Conference Program
A Conference on Best Practices to Engage Girls and Students of Color in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Tuesday, June 27 through Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Coeur de Catherine Hall
College of St. Catherine
2004 Randolph Avenue
St Paul, MN 55105

To view session descriptions, click on Session Descriptions.
For details on the sessions, download:

...... ...Tuesday	... June 27, 2006
...8:00	Registration and Breakfast
...8:45	Welcome and Keynote Speaker: Eric Jolly, Ph.D., speaking on *Why the Difference?* President, Science Museum of Minnesota
...9:15	Break
...9:30	Sessions
1 10:45	Break
1 11:00	Sessions
...12:30	Lunch
...12:50	Engaging ALL Students in Science: A Conversation Patricia Campbell, Ph.D., Campbell-Kibler and Associates, Angela Ginorio, Ph.D., University of Washington, and
...1:30	Break
...1:45	Sessions
...3:00	Break
...3:15	Affinity Groups: teachers will gather with peers related to grade levels or STEM disciplines to talk about incorporating new techniques into their classrooms.
...4:00	Poster Sessions, Exhibitors, and Ice Cream Social
...6:15	Optional Evening Activities Body Worlds, Science Museum of Minnesota The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis The Works Science and Technology Center, Edina The Forum at Minnesota Public Radio: Diann Jordan speaking on Sisters in Science
... ..Wednesday	... June 28, 2006
...8:15	Breakfast
...8:45	Keynote: Julie Johnson, a recent NSF program officer, speaking on Funding Opportunities in Teacher Professional Development from the National Science Foundation Keyno
...9:15	Break
...9:30	Sessions
...10:45	Break
...11:00	Sessions
...12:30	Lunch
...12:50	Panel discussion: Girls Do Science: Increasing Achievement K-12 Patricia Campbell, Ph.D., Campbell-Kibler and Associates, Angela Ginorio, Ph.D., University of Washington Kathryn Scantlebury, Ph.D. University of Delaware; facilitated by Susan Goetz, Ed. D., College of St. Catherine
...1:45	Sessions
...3:00	Break
...3:15	Plenary session: Next steps in implementing best practices, facilitated by Anthony Murphy, Ph.D., College of St. Catherine.
...4:00	Closure

Optional fee-based evening outings offered on Tuesday evening, June 27th were:
Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul
Visit BODY WORLDS and other science and technology exhibits in the museum’s galleries. BODY WORLDS features almost 200 authentic human specimens, revealing the anatomy of entire bodies, individual organs, and transparent body slices that have been preserved through the process of plastination, a technique that replaces bodily fluids and fat. Fee of $45 includes buffet supper, transportation, museum and BODY WORLDS admissions. http://www.smm.org/bodyworlds/

Sisters in Science: Conversations with Black Women Scientists on Race, Gender and Their Passion for Science
with Dr. Diann Jordan
Tuesday, June 27th, 7:00 p.m.
The Forum at Minnesota Public Radio

Dr. Diann Jordan will be speaking in The Forum at Minnesota Public Radio about her new book Sisters in Science, Conversations with Black Women Scientists on Race, Gender and Their Passion for Science. The event will begin with a presentation by Dr. Jordan following by a dialogue with audience members drawn from the scientific and technology communities. Dr. Jordan's appearance will be recorded for possible radio broadcast and is being considered for C-SPAN's Book TV.

CWST Homepage | Conference Homepage | Conference Themes | Conference Speakers | Why the Difference? in Engagement | Session Descriptions