Our TxGCP eNewsletter arrives monthly in your inbox to learn about science, technology, engineering and math resources, educational opportunities and more around Texas and beyond!
October 2016
Upcoming TxGCP Events

Science Action Club Educator Training
October 22, 9am - 3pm - Austin, TX
Calling all Educators! You are invited to participate in a Science Action Club Activity Leader workshop to bring citizen science to your middle-school youth! Selected programs will receive in-depth training on Science Action Club activities, kits, and teaching techniques for the informal learning environment. Each curriculum guidebook includes step-by-step plans for 12 fun activities designed for one-hour club meetings. Teaching kits valued at $500 contain high-quality science equipment and classroom supplies for 20 youth along with digital resources that provide opportunities to extend learning. Applications due 10/10!
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November 11-13 - San Antonio, TX
Look for TxGCP in your agenda for the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching this year!  We will be presenting on STEM role models, What TxGCP can do for you, TEKS-aligned hands-on activities, and more! Come out to one of our sessions!
September 21, 4:30 - 6:30pm - Austin, TX
Network with STEM-engaged organizations from across the area and learn about the resources available to assist you in your efforts. Hear updates from the Greater Austin STEM Ecosystem, launched at the White House in November 2015 as one of 27 Ecosystems in the country, and the only one in Texas. Learn about statewide STEM out of school time system building led by TXPOST. And explore resources of the Texas Girls Collaborative Project including role model workshops, a new Texas skills-based STEM volunteer matching system, hands-on STEM curriculum and more. Connect with programs across the area and hear about upcoming STEM events. And share what you and/or your organization are doing to excited kids about STEM.
TxGCP Regional Leadership Team & Champions Board Applications Open Now!
Apply Online
Application Deadline: November 1 

TxGCP Regional Leadership Teams Overview

The TxGCP Regional Leadership Teams (RLTs) carry out the activities of the collaborative within their region and help set the statewide TxGCP strategy in alignment with the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) strategy. The TxGCP RLTs include members of organizations that are also invested in girls in STEM and are able to contribute to the project’s success. The RLTs are supported by the TxGCP Core Leadership Team and the Collaborative Lead. Roles and responsibilities of TxGCP RLTs include the following:
 
  • Commit to serving on the RLT for 2 Years (2017-2018)
  • Participate in 2 teleconferences (spring and fall) per year to assess and direct TxGCP administration, projects, communications and strategy
  • Host one workshop, forum, or other TxGCP Regional Event annually in collaboration with other RLT members with support from the TxGCP Core Leadership Team and the Collaborative Lead
  • Participate in online surveys to assess the effectiveness of the RLTs, TxGCP and NGCP
  • Assist with the marketing and hosting of TxGCP K-12 STEM Outreach Forums, workshops and other programs
  • Encourage STEM Role Models to sign up in FabFems and Texas STEM Connections to help reach TxGCP's pledge of 20,000 mentors as part of the Million Women Mentors movement
  • ​Include TxGCP resources and/or information in presentations (resource slide and materials available) or throughout networks
  • Provide administrative or materials resources to the TxGCP when available and/or appropriate
  • Provide connections to resources or additional collaborators when available and/or appropriate
 
The goal for the TxGCP RLTs is to expand the reach of TxGCP across Texas and to connect more organizations and individuals across the state to research based best practices for engaging girls in STEM.

TxGCP Champions Board Overview
 
The TxGCP Champions Board supports the activities of the collaborative and advances the statewide TxGCP strategy in alignment with the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) strategy. The Champions Board includes members of organizations that are also invested in girls in STEM and are able to contribute to the project’s success.  Roles and responsibilities of TxGCP Champions Board include the following:

  • Serve a 1-Year Commitment (Renewable) (2017)
  • Participate in 2 telephone conferences per year for the TxGCP Leadership Team to provide updates (January Kick-off Webinar and Summer Update)
  • Participate in TxGCP Regional Leadership Team efforts as needed and/or as available
  • Encourage STEM Role Models to sign up in FabFems and Texas STEM Connections to help reach TxGCP's pledge of 20,000 mentors as part of the Million Women Mentors movement
  • Include TxGCP resources and/or information in presentations (resource slide and materials available) or throughout networks
  • Support the efforts of TxGCP through networks, connections, funds/grants, resources, meeting space, etc. as needed and/or as available
All Educator Resources
Picademy Professional Development Workshop at the Texas Advanced Computing Center
December 8-9 - Austin, TX
Hosted by the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas, Raspberry Pi is pleased to offer a Picademy professional development workshop in Austin, Texas, as part of the Picademy USA 2016 pilot program. Over the course of two days, 40 teachers get hands-on with computing and discover the many ways the Raspberry Pi can be used in the classroom. No experience is necessary; the Foundation’s Education Team will help teachers discover practical ways in which Raspberry Pi can support and further their use of technology. Applications open now!

Educators Night Out at the Houston Zoo
November 4 and December 1 - Houston, TX
We are bringing back our Educators Night Out event for two more evenings this fall! Learn how recycling small electronic devices can help save animals in the wild and experience STEAM activities, animal presentations, and much more.  Light appetizers, drinks, and Zoo Lights admission will be included in your registration.

Engineering with Animals at the Houston Zoo
November 5 - Houston, TX
Ideal for 3rd – 12th Grade Educators
Explore animals and their engineering skills at the Houston Zoo! Come learn how zookeepers and conservationists use engineering and problem solving to create natural environments and enrichment for the animals who live here and in the wild.

"Let's Talk Read and Sing About STEM" Tip Sheets for Parents, Families and Educators
Research shows that early exposure to STEM has positive impacts across the entire spectrum of learning. For example, early math knowledge not only predicts later math success, it also predicts later reading achievement (National Research Council, 2012). Despite these powerful findings, our schools and early childhood programs often lack knowledge, resources, and capacity to focus on early STEM learning in developmentally appropriate ways.

The NSADay of Cyber, powered by LifeJourney, is a free, interactive, online career simulation and exploration platform that allows students to test-drive and experience a day in the life of our nation's cyber professionals. The platform provides approximately 2-3 hours of content where students have the opportunity to interact virtually with the NSA cyber mentors,  explore each respective journey, and take a seat beside the mentors in the NSA Cyber Threat Center in solving exciting “cyber situations”, intriguing crypto puzzles and other real-life cyber scenarios

Advocates for high-quality afterschool programming in STEM will find useful tools to make the case for expanding and supporting innovative and engaging informal STEM learning. The themes represented in the talking points and other advocacy materials are based on careful communications research—so advocates can have confidence that they are reliable, tested ways of positioning afterschool STEM.
Educator Resources by Grade
Elementary Educators
Thinkery Guided Tours and Focused Field Trips
Austin, TX
Come and explore Thinkery with your students this upcoming school year. We're now accepting requests for Guided Tours and Focused Field Trips for the 2016–2017 school year! 
• Guided Tours are available for Pre-K–5th grade, 120 students max.
• Focused Field Trips are available for 3rd–5th grade, 25 students max
Middle School Educators
SciGirls Middle School Educator Hands-on Activity Resources
Virtual
SciGirls has made a commitment to providing quality, gender-equitable, inquiry-based STEM activities that are fun for all! Check out the activities under the following topic areas:
  • Earth & Space
  • Engineering
  • Health
  • Life & Environmental
  • Physics & Chemistry
  • Technology 
High School Educators
Engineer Your Life is a guide to engineering careers for high school girls!  Imagine what life would be like without pollution controls to preserve the environment, life-saving medical equipment, or low-cost building materials for fighting global poverty. All this takes engineering. In very real and concrete ways, women who become engineers save lives, prevent disease, reduce poverty, and protect our planet.  Dream Big. Love what you do.  Become an engineer.

eGFI is for everyone! From the interactive website to the colorful and inspiring print and digital magazine, there is something for everyone--students, K-12 teachers and informal educators, parents and guardians, and anyone else with an interest in engineering.  
Join our K-12 STEM Outreach Google Groups! These groups are all about sharing resources, information, events, volunteers, needs, and more with others reaching out to K-12 students aiming to excite them about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Central TX  |  DFW  |  East Texas  |  El Paso  |  Houston  |  Laredo  |  RGV  |  San Antonio  |  West TX


For those not in one of these areas who still want to receive information going out to all groups, join the  Texas K-12 STEM Outreach group. 
 
Contact  Tricia Berry for any specific regional requests or questions.
Let other know about the great programs you run! To find STEM programs across the country or to list your own, please visit   The Connectory
Find fabulous STEM role models in your area to show virtually or connect with in-person on the FabFems site!
WGLC 2016
About TxGCP & NGCP
The Texas Girls Collaborative Project (TxGCP) connects organizations and individuals across Texas committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The TxGCP is excited to provide opportunities across Texas for collaboration, networking, sharing of best practices, and leveraging of resources through in-person forums, listservs and mini-grants.   

Led by the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) at The University of Texas at Austin along with a Leadership Team and Champions Board, the TxGCP brings together advocates and leaders from non-profits, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, companies and organizations across Texas.
The vision of the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) is to bring together organizations throughout the US and Puerto Rico that are committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 
The TxGCP eNewsletter is distributed approximately once a month. Visit the TxGCP web site for additional updates on upcoming events, resources and mini-grant information.
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