A weekly chat covering topics related to teaching with a global perspective. A rotating cast of guest hosts include education experts and influencers. A must-follow for all educators who would like to open their classroom to global opportunities! Hosted by @HSingmaster and sponsored by @AsiaSocietyEDU
John, Headmaster at an international American school in Mexico City. I connected more with great Ts than with subjects, but Spanish was always one I looked forward to. #globaledchat
I'm Heather Singmaster of @AsiaSocietyEDU, the host of #globaledchat and editor of the Global Learning blog on @educationweek! My favorite class in high school was the college level Mythology class I took.
Hi #globaledchat, I am Ligaya. I work in the #globaled field. My favorite subject in school used to be math (gr. 2-8?), then I gradually lost interest & my fav subject became English.
Hi, #Globaledchat - I'm Barbara from Oakland, CA - my favorite subject in school was art in elementary, history in MS, then science in HS. I loved going deeper into scientific method and inquiry #girlsinSTEM
I am Julie Willcott - from Maine. I teach Sustainable Food Systems. And (hint, hint) I am working on a Literacy and Science course for @participate. #globaledchat
Andrea from CT. One of my favorite class in h.s. was AP bio, though I was later scared off of STEM by an incredibly tough college chemistry class. #globaledchat
Q1: What are some examples of how girls and boys are treated differently, and assumed to have different aptitudes and interests, from birth? #globaledchat
A1-Think about toys in a department store. I always made sure we walked down all the aisles so my daughter was exposed to everything-dolls and cars. #Globaledchat
A1: words for girls are “cute, pretty, nice, beautiful, (passive),” whereas words for boys are “smart, strong, rowdy (active).” Gendered language & attitudes start at birth #globaledchat
A1. It makes me happy to be see you including boys - as well as girls - in this conversation. I always hated to hear my HS male students say they couldn't study English in college. #globaledchat
A1: I have a daughter and a son. As parents, we didn't want to treat them differently. My daughter wanted dolls and my son made guns out of sticks. Now my daughter is a rock climber and my son is an actor/musician. You never know. #Globaledchat
I found the toy shopping experience totally off-putting with MUCH better toys, puzzles and games marketed to boys and a load of crap marketed to girls. Sigh. #Globaledchat
Something as small as a word spoken to a child can make all the impact. Let's use all active and passive words no matter the gender of the child. #Globaledchat
That's interesting. As a parent, you can control gender bias in yr own home. But how do you protect yr kids from it in the rest of society? #globaledchat
A1: It's interesting when I work with schools and a teacher mentions that there are too many rowdy boys. There tends to be a bias and stereotyping right from birth and in the classroom. #Globaledchat
So often I hear parents say how active boys are, like unusually active. Don't most young children run around like tornadoes? IME parents assume that boys are most active and girls are "easier" to deal with #globaledchat
A1: read something recently about choices made re reading, toys etc. shows in brain development e.g. better spacial awareness connected to playing with certain types of toys #globaledchat
A1: I have a granddaughter. She's brought up so differently than my daughter. She loves to build things. We gave her a science toolkit. She climbs with her parents. Even with that, she loves pink, playing with dolls and loads of stuffed animals. #Globaledchat
Great question. I think it has to do with encouraging conversations at homes about bias of all types no matter where they rear their ugly head! #Globaledchat
A2: When hasn't it been important? Women make less money, have less opportunities for career advancement, and have lower participation in the workforce in general. #Globaledchat
That happens all too often, alas. Sometimes you'll see a different dynamic for the school newspaper though - nothing like experiencing the power of words to win over the boys, too. #globaledchat
Q2: where I used to work in western China, families prioritized sending boys to school. Girls were more at risk of dropping out early to help with domestic chores or get married. This is the case in many other places in the world #globaledchat (1/2)
A1: Instead of "Boys will be boys" and "act like a lady" why don't we just say: "be kind, care about others, act the way you would like to be treated." Need to stop the stereotyping. #Globaledchat
A2 My girls and I were talking Elizabeth Bennett & Mary Poppins today. They were puzzled that when my grandmother was born, women couldn't vote. Need to keep that momentum, and spread it around. #globaledchat
A2. Making sure all students have access to all opportunitiesis huge because we are recognizing human potential, our moral imperative is invigorated and the field is leveling. #Globaledchat
A2 Because gosh could we all, children and adults alike, benefit from a wider perspective - something at the heart of defining “education” #Globaledchat
A2 the workforce arguments always get ppl, so ill bite. if only one gender is encouraged in a field, then you'll end up with a half the potential talent pool for jobs (there are lots of caveats to this) #globaledchat
A2: where I used to work in western China, families prioritized sending boys to school. Girls were more at risk of dropping out early to help with household work or get married. This is the case in many other places in the world #globaledchat (1/2)
A2: Because all students need to be able to find their passion and use it to inform their futures. Many are getting ready for jobs that don’t exist yet and need the ability to explore all avenues. #Globaledchat
A2-We have workforce gaps because the perception isn't that everyone can do everything based on gender. Therefore, we have to ensure equity and conversations are had early in education and keep in mind #equity. #Globaledchat
A2: We need to teach our girls to self-advocate. To know that they matter and to believe in themselves. I was treated poorly because of being a woman. I showed them. I can do anything now if I put my mind to do it and model that for my daughter and granddaughter. #globaledchat
A1: In Latin culture, many of the gender norms are even more entrenched and “princesitas” never get dirty or play rough while “hombrecitos” are expected to be manly in their interests and pursuits. #Globaledchat
A2: Equity has always been important. I think that it is being discussed more now because people are tired of remaining silent and feel braver to bring it into the open. We need every child, regardless of gender, to be encouraged to explore any subject they choose. #globaledchat
A2: equity in education is so important. The research shows that when girls stay in school longer, they not only can make better wages in the work force, they are also more likely to send their kids to school & end the cycle of poverty. #globaledchat (2/2)
Q3: The shortage of skilled workers and students in #STEM is only half of the story. More alarming is the shortage of female skilled workers and #GirlsinSTEM. Why does this matter? #Globaledchat
A1 Being a social studies educator I see it in textbook & curriculum differing representations & females often being marginalized. Elsewhere "dolls" vs. "action figures", types of activities girls geared towards, etc. #globaledchat
A2... we do have to check ourselves, much of the research on things like wait time show that teachers don't even realize that they're doing it. It's cultural and deeply ingrained #Globaledchat
I think that the systematic degrading of girls has had its impacts over the years. Self-advocation and support are critical to reversing this. Thank you for all you do! #Globaledchat
A2: Help all children find their Why. What is their passion? When they have the time to explore their interests, find their passion, then they'll discover their purpose. #Globaledchat Here's a quote I wrote in 2001
R2: I have two daughters and I want to ensure that they have every chance to do whatever they want to do academically and extracurricular wise. #Globaledchat
I think that the systematic degrading of girls has had its impacts over the years. Self-advocation and support are critical to reversing this. Thank you for all you do! #Globaledchat
A3: I think it's great that #girlsbehindthegames has been trending all day today as we are discussing #girlsinSTEM! We need female perspectives in gaming and in STEM in general! #Globaledchat
A3: I heard a Google based presentation yesterday estimating 1.6M coding realated jobs in North America by 2020 with only 400K being filled based on current findings. Lots of opportunity for all. #globaledchat
Q3: The shortage of skilled workers and students in #STEM is only half of the story. More alarming is the shortage of female skilled workers and #GirlsinSTEM. Why does this matter? #Globaledchat
A3: #STEM is the future of the workforce. If we do not prepare girls to succeed in STEM, and if we do not remove the barriers that prevent girls from accessing STEM, they will be left out of our rapidly changing economy. #Globaledchat
I'm a dissenting voice here... think the "we're all the same and want the same things" is a deception we'll regret. Take a thoughtful look at "The Ridiculous Crusade for Gender-Neutral Toys." https://t.co/nD3anJ3cKg#Globaledchat
A3: Women and girls are smart. We need to give them the opportunities to believe in themselves. Create advisory or mentor programs to guide and nudge girls into #STEM. #GirlsinSTEM#Globaledchat
R3: I think this question goes further than just boys/girls. I see it with my ethnic diversity. Ss of different ethnic origins and different sexes think they can’t do a job that is traditionally a white male job. It is total garbage imo. Have to change thoughts #Globaledchat
A3: Female & male perspectives are important in all areas of work. Also, girls are empowered by other females. The littles need role models. #Globaledchat
A3: It is important to consider if we are unintentionally encouraging girls in directions other than STEM subjects. I think the majority of teachers/parents would never intentionally do it, but maybe we aren't intentional about making sure that girls feel included. #globaledchat
A3 Equit is at the forefront of many conversations because we need our entire populace represented or we will miss the innovators left out in a lack of diversity of any sort #Globaledchat
I loved @HiddenFigures and was also angered that the lives of these women remained largely unknown until the movie came out! How many of these stories have yet to be told? #Globaledchat
In reply to
@Snehalstocks, @SECottrell, @HiddenFigures, @HiddenFigures
A2 It's not only about equity being important in educatin & work, it's about opportunities and, probably more important, shifting the paradigm in cultures & educating males & females from an early age about equal opportunities, not bullying, & modeling it #globaledchat
A3: Because we are loosing out on half the population’s talents. When one group is favored over another people live into that theory and believe that narrative to the point where it becomes true! #Globaledchat
how do we break these entrenched gender norms while being mindful and inclusive of traditional cultural norms? disclaimer: not a cultural relativist, just interested in that tricky balance #Globaledchat
A3 Equity is at the forefront of many conversations because we need our entire populace represented or we will miss the innovators left out in a lack of diversity of any sort #Globaledchat
A3: Sean from BC, Canada. Not tapping in to half of a populations ingenuity, skills, & passions hinders the quality of #STEM professions and really the whole human race. #globaledchat
Definitely, I don't think we need gender neutral toys...think we give students both options and not influence. Let them see both and decided on their own based on their interests not what a global society says should be...#Globaledchat
A3 Historically, domination by a group leads to marginalization of many others. The USA today is a perfect example (among other places,too). #globaledchat
A3: Every child needs an advocate. Any adult can be their champion. We need girls and boys to believe that they can do anything and give them opportunities and resources to explore their passion. #Globaledchat
A3: We need to reform our hiring practices to encourage more women science and math teachers. Ss need to see these kinds of leaders in the classroom #globaledchat
It’s a solid question. We are also short-changing ourselves when we only think in two genders for STEM. Trans and queer youth are innovators too! #globaled#globaledchat
Definitely, I don't think we need gender neutral toys...think we give students both options and not influence. Let them see both and decided on their own based on their interests not what a global society says should be...#Globaledchat
A3: Equity is more than treating everyone the same. Each child is unique in their own way. We need to redesign teaching and learning so we can build relationships based on trust so every child is valued and has a sense of belonging. #Globaledchat
As parents, we want to take obstacles out our children's path. Perhaps we inadvertently discourage careers that are going to have obstacles based on bias and stereotypes. I think we tend to underestimate the courage and grit of our girls. #Globaledchat
A3: It is important to consider if we are unintentionally encouraging girls in directions other than STEM subjects. I think the majority of teachers/parents would never intentionally do it, but maybe we aren't intentional about making sure that girls feel included. #globaledchat
My daughter still loves legos vs dolls. I gave her the choice and told my parents not to buy her a doll, but a gift card and let her choose. #Globaledchat
A4: Read books to young girls about female innovators and scientists. @MJ_Mouton is an example of an author who writes books with this focus. #globaledchat
A4: Make women in STEM careers visible in your classroom! Read books about female engineers, solve word problems about girls doing math, bring in females who work in STEM fields as guest speakers. #globaledchat
A4: Encourage exploration inside and outside. Have stations where kids can build and be creative. Give time for free play. Encourage risk taking and collaborating. #Globaledchat
A4: Stop teaching isolated subjects. Create challenges that are multi-discipline and encourage design thinking, scientific message, inquiry, and collaboration. #Globaledchat
Nothing wrong with loving pink, decking out a doll or two, and the animals. It's a balance. Let her build, create, make, and get dirty. She'll do wonderful things. #globaledchat
A4 make an effort to encourage girls to participate in community #STEM programs from early age, volunteer to be a mentor in this. If community doesn't have a program, help set one up, give $, & make sure girls get to participate #globaledchat
A4: Introduce them to women in #STEM positions they can look up to, encourage them to explore, add STEM to so many required standards to give girls a chance to experiment, explore, build, think differently than much of society may say they should. #Globaledchat
R4: my daughters love to draw, color, build things. We have our own little maker space in our house. I expose them to nails, hammers, lumber, etc. Legos also!!#Globaledchat
I was very careful with my daughter. Tried my best to present options, pros and cons ... so the choice was hers. Which is what it should be for all! #Globaledchat
A4: Most importantly, with how many female elementary educators there are, MODEL for your female students positive attitudes about math and always display a growth mindset. #Globaledchat
Thanks, @mrterborg - I agree. Now she's building worlds in Minecraft, doing experiments with the science kit, and jumping in mud puddles. #globaledchat
Nothing wrong with loving pink, decking out a doll or two, and the animals. It's a balance. Let her build, create, make, and get dirty. She'll do wonderful things. #globaledchat
A4: Make sure we have #stem Ts who are of both genders and we need to also look at the #s of girls taking #stem electives as a % of our total Ss #globaledchat
I must check this out! My girls will love it! I tell them, "Look, you're an engineer!" all the time. If I say "Math..." they finish "...is life." #globaledchat
A4: Stop teaching isolated subjects. Create challenges that are multi-discipline and encourage design thinking, scientific message, inquiry, and collaboration. #Globaledchat
Protect? Or educate? Prepare them to have a conversation with those they encounter? Defend when needed, but they need strength/words to respond. #globaledchat
R4: I also expose all of my Ss to science demonstrations. I also explain in detail. My hope is that I spur interest and excitement about the topic. #Globaledchat
A4: prenatal STEM courses! jk But really, from birth, remove that gendered language and fight against gender bias. Nurture a love for nature & innate curiosity. As educators, be mindful of how we carry our innate biases into the classroom and fight to curb those.#globaledchat
A4: We need to work with teachers to create #STEM projects - learn by doing so they can model the projects with girls at younger and younger ages. Most female teachers never had those opportunities themselves. #Globaledchat
Q5: Many young female students express interest in #STEM but don't pursue college or careers in those fields. What are some strategies to reduce this gap? #globaledchat#GirlsInSTEM
Some interesting intiatives taking place in other countries, too, to promote girls' interest in #STEM, particularly technology. https://t.co/EoB7MPUQnQ#globaledchat
A4 Our local chapter of Nat. Assoc. of Women in Construction hosted an engineering playshop is the way I'd describe it - my daughter had a blast at age 6 #globaledchat
As for college, much more support & tutorials available for tough math/sci courses and an end to courses whose sole purpose is to "weed out" students. #globaledchat
Q5: Many young female students express interest in #STEM but don't pursue college or careers in those fields. What are some strategies to reduce this gap? #globaledchat#GirlsInSTEM
A5 My district does a wonderful job of connecting students with internships in high school to get their proverbial feet wet and want to increase these experiences #globaledchat
Q5: Many young female students express interest in #STEM but don't pursue college or careers in those fields. What are some strategies to reduce this gap? #globaledchat#GirlsInSTEM
A5: CTE programs, more experiential classrooms, good advising and counseling, lots of conversations about careers and what that means for their postsecondary plans. #Globaledchat
A5-One reason is the lack of role models and mentors. They are there just not widely promoted or none vs male counterparts. #Globaledchat
This video demonstrates my point
https://t.co/H1iGg71Wdo
Good question. In Colombia I’m trying to stay sensitive to norms while gently (firmly) pushing boundaries very slowly when appropriate. I believe we should teach students that they get to decide the aspects of culture that should continue vs those that need to go. #globaledchat
A5: Develop advisories in MS/HS. Each student needs a champion and advocate who can bridge the gap. The idea is to connect female students who have an interest in #STEM with companies so they can experience #STEM in the real world. #Globaledchat
A5: I think their love for #STEM needs to continue to be fostered and grown as they grow. They need to continue to have mentors to come along side them & to look up to as well. #Globaledchat
A5 I was a girl who was good at math. I veered far away from #STEM in college (it was not STEM then) Now I am a woman who tutors GED students in math, I earn $0/hour but dammit Im a woman in #STEM#playthelonggame#globaledchat
A5: Females are often not rewarded for being risk-takers. Instead, they are told to be perfect from a young age. We need to change this attitude in order for women to enter a field in which failure is inevitable and necessary to grow #globaledchat
A5: Create a profile of a graduate for all children. Make it clear that female students can have every opportunity to learn about #STEM and experience activities for college and career. #Globaledchat
At the elementary level, I run an after school robotics program using @BotballRobotics curriculum. We have an equal number of boys & girls! It’s so exciting to see both genders come together to engage in STEM edu!
A5: I think their love for #STEM needs to continue to be fostered and grown as they grow. They need to continue to have mentors to come along side them & to look up to as well. #Globaledchat
We definitely need to move the conversation beyond oversimplified binary conceptions of gender and focus on every person living up to their potential as creators and innovators! #Globaledchat
In reply to
@ligayabeebe, @larkscience, @jdeborahklein
hmm. yes "protect" was not quite right. "educate" and "prepare" are better. They need strength/words and allies of all genders. so we need to also educate our boys (and trans, and genderqueer kids, too) #globaledchat
A5 many factors, but big 1 is a culture shift among how we talk to & treat girls (& boys) & the way we communicate, encourage & the types of experiences we encourage them to have. Start early, provide mentors #globaledchat
My daughter hated losing when we played video games, but I told her to keep trying. She now schools me in Mario Kart and does a happy dance. Glad she didn't give up and took a chance... #Globaledchat
A5: Make sure you build the culture the first few weeks of school before jumping into academics. Build the relationships. Kids care if they know you care. Relationships matter! #Globaledchat
A5- Yes. It can be very intimidating for a girl enter a career where you see yourself as the only woman. Bringing mentors to schools or exposing girls to real work life situations (field trips, internships) where they see women in action can help a lot. #Globaledchat#STEMed
A5-One reason is the lack of role models and mentors. They are there just not widely promoted or none vs male counterparts. #Globaledchat
This video demonstrates my point
https://t.co/H1iGg71Wdo
It is definitely about equipping all Ss with the skills to advocate for their position intelligently, passionately and persuasively. That's where the magic happens! #Globaledchat
A6 not sure about classroom resources (since I'm social studies not STEM), but as a parent of a 10 y/o interested in STEM, I suggest parents get their daughter a sphero not a barbie doll. A drone not a dress - grandparents are good for getting the dress :) #globaledchat
A6: Have a #makerspace in your classroom & lots of "toys" for all Ss to experiment w... building supplies, #coding, robotics, etc. Do @geniushour & let Ss experiment. #Globaledchat
A6: Partner with your community. Find mentors who work in #STEM. I worked in the health field some time ago and was a mentor for girls via @GirlsIncAC. Girls need to experience different #STEM fields so they have an idea if that's what they want. #Globaledchat
R6: One great organization that I’ve been involved with is @SHPE. Although it encourages Hispanic Ss to get involved, it is a very inclusive organization. They have Jr chapters for middle and HS students and expose Ss to careers, universities, and people #Globaledchat
Check out: https://t.co/l4N8jzdwxG for ideas for repurposing dolls / toys. Not exactly the site I was looking for but I think you get the idea. #globaledchat
In reply to
@Snehalstocks, @RaRaPenguin, @SECottrell
What I used with my daughter is hands on activities...legos, puzzles, magnets, etc...if she liked it great we did more...if not, then we moved on to something else. #Globaledchat
In reply to
@noel_hoffmann, @mrterborg, @MJ_Mouton
Absolutely. Wasn't trying to take away from that. :) Just figured I'd jump in as often boys don't let girls experience stem later... (intentionally or unintentionally) #globaledchat
R6: @SHPE has a yearly conference held at various locations around the US. They bring in various organizations like @Microsoft, @facebook, @USArmy, @NSAGov, among others to talk about careers and to expose Ss to different real world tasks. #Globaledchat
While it's more specific to math, I highly recommend @joboaler's book, Mathematical Mindsets, a must-have addition to your teacher library. Also check out her site, https://t.co/Qi6y7mic0e. #Globaledchat
A7: I'm starting a new project to create PD for teachers to help integrate #globaled into #STEM. I'm going to include some ways to engage girls. If you have examples of globally focused #STEM projects related to #CTE, let me know! #globaledchat
A6: While it's more specific to math, I highly recommend @joboaler's book, Mathematical Mindsets, a must-have addition to your teacher library. Also check out her site, https://t.co/Qi6y7mic0e. #Globaledchat
A7: Continue to encourage & challenge them to build, experiment, pursue their passions, bring in mentors & model being open minded about it myself. #Globaledchat
A7: I am an ELA teacher, so the best way I can support girls in STEM is to offer books in my curriculum that illustrate female scientists,engineers and mathematicians. #globaledchat
A7 My girls are 5 and 8 and know that learning to code isn't optional as per their programmer dad. If it's their career, fine, but whatever they do, it will come in handy. #globaledchat
A7: To model. I'm pretty old and still love #STEM. I will share stories of #GirlsinSTEM, invite teachers making a difference to my podcast show, & write posts. My job never will end because I believe all children deserve to become the best they can be. #Globaledchat
I gave my nephew and niece for Christmas a "make yourself a robot" kit - I was not sure they would like it but they loved it. Children learn by doing. Exposure to hardware at young age is often the path to tech (we saw it with Steve Wozniak & others) #globaledchat
What I used with my daughter is hands on activities...legos, puzzles, magnets, etc...if she liked it great we did more...if not, then we moved on to something else. #Globaledchat
In reply to
@noel_hoffmann, @mrterborg, @MJ_Mouton
A7 And please #globaledchat colleagues, whatever you do, don't advocate for coding to replace world language. Yes, they'll know some JavaScript before middle school. But they're also proficient Spanish speakers.
My father was a programmer too. He taught us how to program games and gave us manuals to play with. It helped me understand computers and logic more than some of my friends. I think it is a wonderful idea. #globaledchat
A7 While not specific to STEM (I'm social studies), I'll share my write up of what I'm trying to do to support my daughter & other girls in STEM & all other areas of society as a dad & educator. #globaledchat
A7: I work for a study abroad program, and STEM kids are in the minority (though girls tend to make up a majority of study abroad Ss). I would love to provide concrete ways for our female Ss to pursue their STEM interests while they are abroad. Any ideas? #globaledchat
A7: As I work with schools and districts, I need to make sure #GirlsInSTEM is part of the project or grant. Also, I need to help teachers transform teaching practice so they can model and inspire girls to focus on #STEM. #Globaledchat
Yes. I think a lot of us who are not in one of the STEM subjects need guidance in this area. It isn't something we naturally think about. #globaledchat
A7: answering my own q! Maybe organize a visit to an international tech co with women in leadership. Recognize contributions of women in the STEM field in the kids’ host country (and around the world). #globaledchat
WOW! What a fantastic chat - I could barely keep up with all of you! Please help me thank @Snehalstocks for all of his hard work in moderating #globaledchat today! And THANK YOU for participating!
A7: I will continue to research female educators' math anxiety and its relation to math practices! Without strong STEM-minded female teachers, we lack the role models female Ss need to interact with every day. #Globaledchat
