Topic/Area: Communication of Science to youth in a gender inclusive way
Date released: 2018
Type of Best Practices
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Toolkit
Partners / network
Hubs, led by 5 science centres and museums, are located in 14 European countries
Description of the methods/ approach
Hypatia offers an accessible, practical and ready-to-use digital collection of activities (modules) for teachers, informal learning organizations, researchers and industry. The modules focus on gender-inclusive ways of educating and communicating STEM, empowers teenagers and explores the range of skills that are needed for a great variety of STEM studies and careers open to young people. The modules are developed by science centres and tested by teenagers and colleagues in other countries. In this way they are applicable internationally.
Purpose/Aim
Hypatia is an EU Horizon 2020 funded project that aims to develop a theoretical framework on gender inclusive STEM education and to produce, test and promote a Toolkit with practical solutions and modules The Toolkit is a of 19 activities aimed at teenagers. Each module is composed of guidelines specific for each activity, guidelines dedicated to the theme of gender inclusion and guidance for facilitators on how to on how to manage the group dynamics by implementing different facilitation strategies.
Evaluation (results) of its effectiveness (if applicable)
N/A
Overview of the lessons learned which are relevant to the project
A key element for good facilitation is the active involvement of the participants every time a concept or content is presented. Involvement means for example: considering participants’ personal experience, building on their own point of view or prior knowledge, embedding continuously the contributions of the participants in the process.
Facilitation takes practice, time and reflection! In order to transfer these concepts into practical situations - and thus to foster engagement, interaction and discussion there is a brief list of suggestions.
References/online sources