This workshop will provide the resources and encouragement to plan and execute a successful parent program to coincide with established K-12 outreach events. Parent programs provide the parents, educators, and guardians of the girls an opportunity to learn and have fun instead of supervising their daughters. We will discuss the five components of our program: information on the STEM gap and gender bias, hands-on design activities, an outline of different engineering fields, college preparation, and a student panel. This workshop will provide the tools to prepare the presentations, activity guidelines, and resources to adapt the program to fit your needs.

1. Parent Program Packet
This material has been put together by Stephanie Gillespie and Jessica Block from GradSWE @
Georgia Tech. Together, we have hosted 6 Parent Programs since its start in Spring 2014, totaling
over 97 attendees. This information comes from our own experiences and the resources
provided.
The Goal of this packet is to
1. Give you the logistics and powerpoints to make your first Parent Program easy to execute
2. Give you extra resources to improve your Parent Program
Logistics and Overall Structure
❏ Book an extra room
❏ Recruit Volunteers
❏ Advertise to the parents
❏ Work with the coordinators of the main event to make a schedule
❏ Be flexible with the parents
❏ Have fun with it!
Topics to Cover:
-Volunteer introductions & volunteer backgrounds
-Introduction to SWE and its goals
-Introduction to engineering as a career
-Overview of expectations at middle school and high school levels
-Discussion of gender bias and other influences on women in STEM fields
-Parents participate in same hands-on activities as students to foster discussion
-Q&A time throughout sessions (and sometimes separately through a panel event)
-Survey to improve future events

2. Example Schedule:
9AM - Sign In/General Event Info
9:30 - Intro
9:35 - Gender Bias Presentation
10:00 - Intro to Engineering Presentation
10:15 - Hands on Activity
11:00 - How to Get to College
11:15 - Panel Discussion
12PM - Wrap Up
Sign in Sheet:
Purpose:​Collect name and e-mail in order to 1) keep track of how many parents show up
and 2) send parents a follow-up e-mail with the powerpoints, extra resources, and a link to
the survey.
Gender Bias PPT
Purpose:​The Gender Bias PPT is a 30 minute presentation on biases that women may
experience in a STEM workforce and how to mitigate them.
Planning Tips: ​It is important to update this powerpoint each year with current statistics and
links to resources. Throughout the presentation focus on how parents can address these issues
early on with their children but also realize that parenting styles differ. Reading the abstract of
the AAUW will prepare you for this presentation.

3. Planning Resources:
-example of powerpoint
http://JessicaTBlock.com/resources.html
-President’s infographics on college education and STEM:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/technology-for-higher-ed
-Article with STEM stats:
http://www.pittsburghquarterly.com/index.php/Education/the-stem-gap.html
-AAUW Report, Why so Few? (executive summary is a good resource for anyone giving this
presentation)
http://www.aauw.org/learn/research/whysofew.cfm
-Statistics on women in engineering from dept of labor: (updated annually in December, can
search “women in the laborforce a databook” for the most recent year), statistics of interest are
currently categorized as “Computer and mathematical occupations”, “Life, physical, and social
science occupations,” and “ Architecture and engineering occupations”:
http://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/cps/women-in-the-labor-force-a-databook-2014.pdf
-Examples of STEM stereotypes:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/19/-sp-barbie-can-be-a-computer-engine
er-but-only-with-help-of-a-man
http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/where-are-the-female-engineer
s-in-volkswagens-super-bowl-ad-playing-with-goldieblox/
http://pgbovine.net/tech-privilege.htm
-Implicit Bias test (titled Project Implicit Social Attitudes): ​https://implicit.harvard.edu
-Who inspired you video from whitehouse (focuses on the importance of educators and
mentors):
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/16/who-inspired-you
-Generational differences information:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe/2014/10/27/introducing-the-homeland-generation-pa
rt-1-of-2/
http://www.valueoptions.com/spotlight_YIW/workforce.htm
-Whitehouse Millenials report:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/millennials_report.pdf
-Deloitte Report on Millenials and the workforce:
http://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/About-Deloitte/gx-dttl-20
14-millennial-survey-report.pdf

4. Introduction to Engineering PPT
Purpose:​The Introduction to Engineering PPT is a 15 minute presentation to introduce the
parents to a general description of an engineer, personality traits that engineers typically
possess, and an overview of engineering disciplines.
Planning Tips: ​Have fun with this! I always throw in some celebrities who have engineering
degrees and create a little trivia contest with the parents. Also, highlighting the diversity of
engineers is key to reaching a wider audience. Don’t forget to emphasize an engineer’s salary and
potential for creativity.
Planning Resources:
-example of powerpoint
http://JessicaTBlock.com/resources.html
-10 reasons to love engineering:
http://www.discovere.org/discover-engineering/10-reasons-to-love-engineering
-Career Outlook:
http://www.discovere.org/discover-engineering/career-outlook
-Different Engineering Fields
http://www.discovere.org/discover-engineering/engineering-careers
Hands on Activity
Purpose:​The Hands on Activity is a 45 minute program that allows the parents to participate in
the engineering design process. The goal is to spark a conversation with their daughter on their
car ride home or maybe at dinner that evening.
Planning Tips:​Aim for an activity that only requires a few materials and is easy to clean up. One
favorite is an Egg Drop competition where the vehicles are tested outside. At the end of the
activity, be sure to highlight the iterative process of engineering design and the physical theory
behind a good design. For instance, we talk about impulse and momentum after the Egg Drop and
about buoyancy after the Aluminum Foil Boats. In order to match an activity that the students are
doing, coordinate with the General Outreach program coordinators.
Planning Resources:
-General Resources:
http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/stem/engineering/

5. http://www.discovere.org/
https://www.teachengineering.org/
-Activities that we have enjoyed:
--Egg Drop
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/544868main_E3_MarsPathfinderEggDrop_C5.pdf
--Aluminum Foil Boats
http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfe/dfer/centers/stem/docs/AluminumFoilBoats.pdf
--Oil Spill Clean Up
https://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/cub_/activities/cub_enveng
/cub_enveng_lesson01_activity1.xml
How To Get To College PPT
Purpose:​The How To Get To College PPT is a 15 minute presentation on the specific statewide
requirements to graduate high school and includes action items to prepare for college.
Planning Tips: ​Know your audience. Tailor your presentation for either the middle school or
high school outreach program. Ask an admissions counselor to come and give a ​short
presentation. They are a great resource and can answer the more specific questions that the
parents may have. Update the requirements according to your state and make sure the
requirements are up to date.
Planning Resources:
-example of powerpoint
http://JessicaTBlock.com/resources.html
-Preparing for college
http://www.discovere.org/discover-engineering/preparing-for-college
-State Department of Education website (example: Georgia)
https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/AskDOE/Pages/Graduation-Requirements.aspx
Student Panel
Purpose:​The purpose of the student panel is to provide a specific time for parents to ask
volunteers questions. It’s also a great time for volunteers to share personal experiences with
engineering.
Planning Tips:​A diverse panel is great; you can reach out to grad students outside SWE,
professional engineers in the area, and professors to participate in the panel.
Planning Resources:

6. Panel questions from SHPE
http://www.shpefoundation.org/media/docs/Noche%20de%20Ciencias%20Documents/STEM
%20Panel%20%E2%80%93%20Suggested%20Questions%20for%20Panelists.pdf
Program Assessment
Purpose:​The purpose of the survey is to asses the impact of your program and discover ways to
improve it.
Planning Tips:​Printing and handing out the survey in-person solicits more responses than a
follow-up e-mail with an attached survey. I use the survey to assess changes in our program, such
as adding male volunteers to the Student Panel.
Planning Resources:
An example survey is uploaded to WE15.
Contact Info
Jessica Block & Stephanie Gillespie
jtblock@gatech.edu, sgillespie6@gatech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology- Grad SWE