Curriculum

Curriculum development and enhancement is a key aspect of the Center of Excellence for Women, Science and Technology. The Center strives to educate women in science and technology who can understand a broad range of applications. The Center engages in new research designed to attract women to science/technology fields and employs new teaching strategies that can advance the education of all women in science/technology fields.

Curriculum innovations
• Me Too! - Fun classes that teach the basics of Mechanical Engineering
• Analyze This! - A Case Study Approach in the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
• STEM Minor - Combining Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) classes for non-STEM majors
• STEMsite - STEM Resources for Students and Faculty
• Science @ St. Kate’s - A poster session highlighting students' work in STEM fields
• Science Saturday - A day of interactive learning for 4th - 8th grade girls
• Re/Composition - Combining English and Computer Science classes

Areas of Interest
• Programs that will improve K-12 education in science for girls and minorities
• Methods to “plug” the “leaky pipeline” by strengthening science, technology, mathematics, and engineering concepts for teachers in elementary schools and as part of teacher preparation
• Camps for girls in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering
• Development and dissemination of new ways for academic departments at the college to link with technology
• Faculty/staff-run workshops on the application of technology to the liberal arts, sciences, and the professions (such as education and nursing)
• Creation of teaching methods encouraging women’s participation in science and technology fields. These can include but are not limited to collaboration, promoting self-directed learning, providing connections to students’ lives and other disciplines, and student-designed investigative laboratory experiences.