Educators
Gateway
Educators (teachers and advisors)
are often the first subject area role models that students have contact with.
You can have an enormous impact on the direction your students lives and careers
take. Therefore, it is important that educators acquire additional mentoring
skills in order to enhance the way they assist their students as they explore
their career options. Included on this page are links to interesting resources
to help you learn more about mentoring careers in the sciences--especially physics.
Don't feel limited to viewing this Gateway, you may also go to the Parents
and Students Gateways for additional
information. All of the information is also found via links from the
DREAM Philosophy page. Enjoy!
Resources
for Educators
There are wide variety of places to find resources about mentoring
students--and we do mean mentoring (nurturing and encouraging) students. A
good place to start is a publication that provides some
tips for promoting
mentoring. We will let author Sandra Harding's mentoring list that I
have adapted below be our guide:
* starting early [in terms of exposure to science enrichment programs]
* a continuing focus on rigorous preparation in science and especially
mathematics through the pipeline
* promoting hands-on involvement through activities such as science fairs
and projects (link to the EYH
Conference web site)
* contact with role models who are minority women -- see
ISU Physics Students & Alumni link as well as Profile
of Women Scientists; you may also download the pdf of my 2003 Women's History
Month Exhibit at the Normal Public Library featuring
ISU Women Scientists.
* availability of appropriate career information -- download the pdf for the
American Physical Society career booklet Physics
in Your Future
as well as the American Physical Society Student
Career Guidance and other
links of interest.
* early exposure to research [in their chosen field]; and download a
handout listing a sampling of the
ISU Physics Department equity and diversity resources
* directly addressing gender and race specific issues, such as combining marriage
and family, addressing clash of culture -- download this handout
about equity based organizations you can contact for more resources
* an opportunity for early work experience in science-related employment
Advice
from a Parent and Educator
Parents and others mentoring students
for college have good suggestions--Physics
Teacher Educator Carl Wenning's Advice to all our daughters and sons.
Becoming
an Educational leader
Helping to improve the representation
of women and minorities in the sciences includes:
1) becoming aware and knowledgable about statistical
and research career mentoring resources as a starting point for understanding
the level and causes of under-representation;
2) a belief that every student has the potential to learn if provided
the appropriate learning opportunities and support--which includes a dedication
to mentoring all students and their potentials (not just the easily identifiable
"stars");
3) finding and adapting helpful
resource learning activities;
4) seeking out organizations
with resources, and publication
resources for equity and diversity;
5) creating a network of support
for student centered equity and diversity mentoring initiatives that involves
teachers, advisors, administrators, school boards, PTA/PTOs, parents, students,
their friends, family members, business and industory, and everyone (regardless
of job title) who is willing to lend their support and encouragement.
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Page last updated 11/17/04gfj