Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Girls RISEnet 2010 Survey
An Environmental Scan of Girl-Friendly Programs and Exhibits in U.S.
Science Museums and Institutions
NATIONAL INSTITUTEOCTOBER 20-23, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC
Girls RISEnet intends to support a network of science museums and institutions across the United States with resources and activities that support girl-friendly and culturally competent programs and exhibits.
The Miami Science Museum is the lead agency for the Girls RISE (Raising Interest in Science and Engineering) Museum Network project. In collaboration with the Association of Science - Technology Centers (ASTC) and SECME, Inc.,
In 2010, Girls RISEnet’s lead evaluator Kathleen Tyner of The University of Texas at Austin worked with the project’s Research Advisory Panel and staff to develop an environmental scan questionnaire as a first-ever baseline measure of girl-friendly programs and exhibits in science museums and institutions throughout the United States.
The online questionnaire was directed to a convenience sample of 351 email addresses from the ASTC mailing list. A total of 105 institutions responded for a very high response rate of 33%.
Results of this baseline survey are reported by region, and will be used to increase the capacity of the RISEnet regional hub science museums to support girl-friendly and culturally-competent programming and exhibition across the United States.
Girls RISEnet is funded by the Research on Gender in Science and Engineering program of the National Science Foundation.
The Sample
Regional Affiliation
E North Central IL, IN, OH, MI, WI
N Sout h Atl antic DC, DE, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV
W North Ce ntral IA, KS, MN, MO , ND, NE, SD
Pacific AK , CA, HI, OR, WA
Mounta in AZ , CO, ID, MT, N M, NV, UT, WY
Mid At lan tic NY, NJ, PA
W South Central AR, LA, OK, TX
S South Atlantic FL
New Engl and CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT
E South C entral AL, MS, KY, TN
Girls RISEnet Survey Sample by Region
New England (n=8)8%
Mid Atlantic (n=9) *9%
East North Central (n=18)*
16%
West North Central (n=12)*
11%
West South Central (n=9)9%
East South Central (n=6)*
6%
Mountain (n=9)9%
Pacific (n=12)*11%
Florida (n=8)8%
North South Central (n=14)
Sample by Region (n=105)
Numbers Served by Pre-K to 12 Educational Programs
26%
58%
9%
4%
1%
1%
0%
0%
1%
20%
12%
14%
13%
11%
7%
7%
3%
15%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
0
<50
51-100
101-250
251-500
501-1000
1000-1500
1500-2500
>2500
Numbers Served
Percentage of Sample
Holiday (n=102)
After School (n=102)
Youth Served by Summer & Saturday Programs
13%
13%
8%
12%
20%
11%
6%
5%
12%
9%
7%
12%
13%
16%
14%
0%
5%
19%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
0
<50
51-100
101-250
251-500
501-1000
1000-1500
1500-2500
>2500
Numbers Served
Percentage of Sample
Summer
Saturday
Youth Served in Internship & Volunteer Programs
14%
35%
25%
9%
8%
5%
1%
3%
26%
58%
9%
4%
1%
1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
0
<50
51-100
101-250
251-500
501-1000
1000-1500
1500-2500
>2500
Numbers Served
Percentage of Sample
Internships
Volunteer
Programming or Exhibits Designed Specifically to Attract and Involve Girls (n=105)
YES62%
NO31%
No Response7%
Girl-Specific Programs by Region (n=105)
4 4
13
6
10
5
8
5
4
6
4
3 3
5
4
3
1
0
5 5
2 2
1 1 1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
NewEngland(n=8)
MidAtlantic(n=9) *
EastNorth
Central(n=18)*
WestNorth
Central(n=12)*
NorthSouth
Central(n=14)
Florida(n=8)
WestSouth
Central(n=9)
EastSouth
Central(n=6)*
Mountain(n=9)
Pacific(n=12)*
Regions
Number of Respondents
YES (n=65)
NO (n=33)
No Response (n=7)
12%38%
14%
67%38%
29%
10%11%
18%
7%6%
23%
2%7%8%
2%
3%
1%1%
1%
3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Percentage of Sample
0
<50
51-100
101-250
251-500
501-1000
1000-1500
1500-2500
>2500
Numbers Served
Educators Served
K-12 Teachers
Informal Educators OUTSIDE yourmuseum or science institution
Your Own Staff
Characteristics of Museums with Programs and Exhibits
to Attract and Motivate Girls
Recruitment of Minority Girls
Percentage of Programs that Recruit Minority Girls (n=65)
21
1211
5
2
14
0
5
10
15
20
25
None < 10% 11-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-100%
Percentage of Programs
Number of Responses
Number of Responses
48%
14%
17%
46%
6%
34%
23%
Black or African American American Indian and Alaskan Native
Asian Latina/Hispanic
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders White, non-Hispanic
No Specific Recruitment
Specific Recruitment by Race/Ethnicity (n=65)
Participation by Minority Girls in Volunteer Programs in the Last 3 Years (n=65)
38%
22%
18%
7%
2%
14%
Stayed the same Increased Don’t know No volunteer programs Decreased No Response
Participation by Minority Girls in Internships in the Last 3 Years (n=65)
35%
23%
15%14%
12%
0%0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Stayed the same No internshipprograms
No Response Don’t know Increased Decreased
% Responses
Barriers to Outreach & Retention of Minority Girls for Educational Programming
65%
43%40%
32%29%
20% 20%17%
6%2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
TransportationStaff ShortagesNeed for Stipends
Their Competing Social Activities
Weak Ties to Underserved Communities
Their Competing Home Duties
Language
Cultural Difference
Conflicts with Their Work Schedules
No Problem
n=65
Top Barriers to Outreach and Retention for Minority Girls in Educational Programs (n=65)
20%
9%
9%
8%
8%
Staff shortages Need for a marketing plan Need for participant stipends
Weak ties to underserved communities Their competing social activities
Funding for Girl-Specific Programs (n=65)
20%
8%
8%
37%
26%
46%
11%
No funding is available
State and local governmental funding
Funding from a federal government program
Foundation funding
Individual contributions
Our institution's general operational budget
Volunteers run these programs at no cost to my institution
Museums and Science Institutions with No Girl-Specific Programs or Exhibits
(n=33)
Number ONE Barrier for Respondents with NO Girl Specific Programming
58%24%
6%
12%
Low staff capacity No funding is available No curriculum is available No Response
Exhibits Designed to Attract Girls
Proportion of Exhibits for Girls in the Last 3 Years (n=65)
37
12
8
3
1
3
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
None < 10% 11-25% 26-50% 51-75% 76-100% No Response
Percentage of Girl-Specific Exhibits
Number of Museums
Educational Programs for Girls and Minority Girls
Grade Levels for Girls in Educational Programs (n=65)
94%
86%
63%
49%
26%
Middle School Elementary School High School Pre-Kindergarten College/University
Recruitment Strategies for Girls in Educational Programs
78%
65%62%
35% 35% 35%
26%23%
20%
2%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Public School Communication
Member OutreachCommunity Groups
Local Science and Engineering Societies
Colleges and Universities
Peer recruitment
Professional Scientists & Engineers
Industry partnerships School Science clubs
State DOE
Recruitment Strategies
% of Sample
n=65
Goals of Educational Programs for Girls
86%
45%
35%
18%15%
5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Provide STEMprogramming
for all girls
Provide STEMprogramming
forunderservedand minority
girls
Identify andbuild widercommunityresources torecruit and
retain girls inthe
engineeringpipeline
Increase thepipeline ofminorityfemale
engineers
Engage girls inengineeringpre-college
competitionsand related
programming
Expose toSTEM Careers
% of Sample (n=65)
How Educational Resources for Girls are Developed (n=65)
52%
38%
3%3% 3%
Both internally and externally Internally by our museum/institution staff
Externally by other non-profits or corporations Don't know
No Response
Professional Development about Girls-Specific Programs for Staff and Educators
Staff Development for Girl-Specific Programs in the Last 3 Years (n=65)
14%
78%
6% 2%
Yes
No
Don’t know
No Response
Professional Development for Girl-Specific Programs Outside Your Museum/Institution in the Last 3 Years (n=65)
17%
78%
5%
Yes No Don’t know
Goals for Educator Workshops Related to Programs for Girls (n=65)
37%
22% 22%
17%
14%
9%
6% 6%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Provide STEMprogramming
for all girls
Provide STEMprogramming
forunderservedand minority
girls
Identify andbuild widercommunityresources torecruit and
retain girls inthe
engineeringpipeline
Increase thepipeline ofminorityfemale
engineers
Engage girlsin engineering
pre-collegecompetitionsand related
programming
Expose toSTEM Careers
Engage girlsin engineering
pre-collegecompetitionsand related
programming
No Response
Recruitment Strategies for Formal/Informal Educators for All Programs (n=65)
62%
49%
40%
34%
25%20% 18% 17%
9%6%
2% 2% 2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Local public schools
Local colleges and universities
Community groups and organizations
Peer recruitment
Marketing to membership
Local professional scientists and engineersLocal science and engineering societies
Industry partnerships School science clubs
ASTC RAPs
School District Office
No Response
Science Beyond Borders Network
How do you develop professional development training materials? (n=65
38%
35%
18%
5%3%
Internally by staff Both internally and externally No Response Externally Don't know
Availability of Professional Development Materials (n=65)
37%
22%
14%
9%
6%
For free
For sale
Some are free and some are for sale
We don't disseminate or sell our educational resources outside of our institution
No Response
Measuring the Impact of Girl-Specific Programs
Are recruitment and retentional goals for girls-specific programs clearly stated in a formal way?
30.8%
64.6%
3.1%
Yes No Don’t Know
How do you measure the impact of girl-specific exhibits? (n=65)
38%
35%
25%
17%
12%
11%
11% 2%
Anecdotal information Don't know Surveys Attendance figures
Admission figures Interviews Evaluation studies
Develop for Everyone
Methods Used to Measure Impact and Program Effectiveness
74%
28%
14%
9%2% 2%
Informal assessments by staff Formal evaluation plans conducted by staff
Third-party evaluation No evaluation activities
Survey Monkey to Parents Institution-Wide Evaluation
Are you able to share your research and evaluation results with the field?
21.5%
63.1%
6.2%
9.2%
Yes No Don’t know No Response
How Research and Evaluation Studies are Used
54%
38% 38%
25%22% 22%
17% 17%14%
5%3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Curriculum development
Strategic planningStaff developmentCommunity outreach
No results
Research proposalsTeacher workshops
Conference presentations
Public forumsPolicy documents
Our web site
Visibility and Outreach to Girls
Outreach and Marketing Media Used to Inform Audiences of Programming and Exhibits (n=65)
88% 86%
80% 80%
74%
66%63%
51%
38%
25%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Word of mouthOur website
Our newsletter
Fliers
NewspapersDirect email
Community events
Local TV news
Blogs
Cable Television
Percent of Responses
How does your institution use online information to reach girls? (n=65)
57%
35%34%
20%
14%
12%5%
Announce community events related to our science and engineering programs for girls
Announce related professional development opportunities to educators
Recruit girls and minority girls for our programs
Share curriculum and instructional materials with educators of girls and minority girls
Don't know
Provide a social networking space for participating girls
Disseminate research about girls and minority girls in science and engineering
Does your institution maintain an official presence?
In your professional role, do you participate on these sponsored sites?
Institutional and Individual Use of Social Networks
Institutional Presence on Facebook
91%
9%
YES NO
Individual - Facebook
11%
52%
34%
3%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
Sponsored Site - Blogs
40%
43%
8%
9%
YES NO Don't Know No Response
Blogs
Individual - Blogs
2%
32%
55%
2%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
Sponsored Site - Linked In
15%
55%
17%
12%
YES NO Don't Know No Response
LinkedInIndividual - LinkedIn
6%
23%
55%
15%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
Sponsored Site - Twitter
63%
29%
6% 2%
YES NO Don't Know No Response
Individual - Twitter
2%
15%
77%
6%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
Sponsored Site - Webinars
12%
65%
9%
14%
YES NO Don't Know No Response
Webinars
Individual - Webinars
3%
34%
48%
15%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
Sponsored Site - Flickr
26%
54%
9%
11%
YES NO Don't Know No Response
Flickr
Individual - Flickr
2%12%
71%
15%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
Sponsored Site - ASTC Connects
29%
32%
23%
15%
YES NO Don't Know No Response
ASTC Connects
Individual - ASTC Connects
3%
40%
40%
17%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
Sponsored Site - Second Life
3%
43%
22%
32%
YES NO Don't Know No Response
Second Life
Individual - Second Life
0%2%
82%
17%
Often Sometimes Never No Response
In Summary....
Sample Characteristics
• East North Central regions reports the greatest number of girl-specific programs followed by North South Central and West South Central regions.
• The museums/institutions report a wide range of youth through multiple programs. Saturday, summer and holiday programs serve the greatest number of students. After-school and internship programs, serve fewer than 50 per year.
• The vast majority provide staff development for under 50 staff members each year.
• The majority provide professional development for up to 250 K-12 teachers and other ISE educators per year.
` Support for Girl-Specific Programs
• Funding for girl-specific programs was most likely to come from the general operating budgets of the museums/institution (46%), followed by foundations (37%).
• Funding was identified by 24% of respondents with no girl-specific programs as a barrier.
• The majority reporting no girl-specific funding cited staff shortages as the major barrier (58%).
Recruitment of Minority Girls
• 21% report no recruitment and 14% recruitment under 10%. 12% report that 75-100% of their programs recruit minority girls.
• African-American girls (48%) and Latina/Hispanic girls (46%) are the most represented minority populations recruited
• When asked to identify multiple barriers to participation, they identified transportation (65%), staff shortages (43%), and a need for stipends (40%).
• The top barrier was identified as staff shortages for the respondents with girl-specific programs (20%)
Exhibits & Educational Programming
• 37% reported no exhibits designed to attract girls over the last 3 years.
• The grade levels served by the majority of respondents were middle school (94%), elementary school (86%), and high school (63%).
• Public schools, member outreach and community groups were the top 3 ways that respondents recruited girls.
• The majority (85%) hope to provide STEM programming for all girls.
Professional Development
• 78% do not offer staff development or professional development outside the institution for girl-specific programming.
• The majority used local public schools and college and universities to help with recruitment of educators.
• 59% offer their educational materials for free or for sale.
Measuring Impact
• Staff conducted formal evaluation (24%) in some cases and 14% employed a third-party evaluator.
• 65% do not formally state their recruitment and retention goals• 38% used anecdotal methods and 35% did not know their institutions’
methods for assessing the effectiveness of exhibits.• 74% used informal staff assessment to measure educational program
effectiveness.• The majority (54%) used evaluation results for curriculum development. • 63% were not able to share their results.
Visibility & Outreach
• Respondents used a wide range of traditional media to inform audiences about programs and exhibits.
• Online media was most often used to communication information about programs and exhibits.
• The majority of institutions sponsored new media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
• A small minority of respondents reported that they used the sites in their professional roles.
• They were most likely to use Facebook, Webinars and ASTC
Connects.
