Encouraging Girls in Math and Science

Although there is a general perception that men do better than women in math and science, researchers have found that the differences between women’s and men’s math- and science-related abilities and choices are much more subtle and complex than a simple “men are better than women in math and science." The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has found that to encourage girls in math and science we need to:

• understand their beliefs about their abilities in these areas
• find a way to spark and maintain greater interest in these topics
• build skills that are related to other interest areas

Students’ choices to pursue careers in math and science reflect multiple influences that accumulate over time. In general, researchers have found that girls and women have less confidence in their math abilities than males do and that from early adolescence, girls show less interest in math or science careers. Women are less involved in career paths and post-secondary education in some areas of math and science than men. This pattern starts at school.The IES has identified practices that elementary, middle, and high school teachers can implement during instruction that they believe would increase the likelihood that girls and women will not prematurely decide that careers in math and science are not for them.

National Center for Education Research and the Institute of Education Sciences have published a Practice Guide, published on WestEd's website, that explores what can teachers do to encourage girls to choose career paths in math- and science-related fields. The report presents five research-based instructional and feedback strategies for teachers at all grade levels:

• Teach that abilities are expandable
• Provide prescriptive, informational feedback
• Show students female role models
• Spark curiosity
• Teach spatial skills

Pepper has released a new workshop focused on Strategies to Engage Girls in Math and Science as part of it’s new Pepper Online Workshop (POW!) content. By taking this workshop you will explore strategies for keeping girls engaged in courses of study related to Math and Science. Participants will be guided through the process of developing a plan for actively motivating and maintaining girl’s interest in Math and Science. You can check all of our new POW content by visiting the Courses and Workshops section on your dashboard.