4.2 Gender strategies for STEAM education
Watch
Watch the video above, where Jean Claude Dushimimana introduces the critical role of gender responsive pedagogy in STEAM education today. He then presents strategies to ensure a gender-inclusive classroom culture that values respect, equity, and inclusivity, from providing gender-sensitive role models to ensuring equal access to digital tools and virtual labs.
Read
Read the following article and essay about gender in STEAM education.
Strategies for Educators to Support Females in STEM
https://gems.education.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/mathTeacher_Strategies_PDF.pdf
Gender Equity vs Gender Equality
https://www.salge.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Gender-Equity-vs-Gender-Equality_2023.pdf
Then review the documents linked below to explore practical implementation gender responsive pedagogy in STEAM education.
Exploring Gender-Responsive Pedagogy for STEM Education
http://www.iisrr.in/mainsite/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/6.-Shok-Mee-LEE-Exploring-Gender-Responsive-Pedagogy-for-STEM-Education.pdf
Gender Responsive Pedagogy
https://biennale.adeanet.org/2006/doc/document/B5_2_fawe_en.pdf
Review
Review the video below, where Dr Evode Mukama, Adviser for Teacher Education, and Dr Karen Nyangara, Adviser for Gender at the Commonwealth of Learning, discuss equity in action to create a fully-inclusive learning environment.
Dr Nyangara and Dr Mukama introduce four strategies and practical steps to transform the STEAM classroom to ensure success for all learners:
- Review content to remove stereotypes.
- Eliminate language bias and increase representation of more female inventors and scientists.
- Use inclusive pedagogy techniques like group work and strategic questioning to ensure equal participation.
- Create a respectful learning environment to promote girls' engagement and academic success for all students.
Note in particular Dr Nyangara's description of gender-blind curriculum. Why is gender-blindness not enough to transform STEAM classrooms into truly equitable learning environments?
Explore
Take time to explore strategies for implementing gender responsive pedagogy in STEAM education.
Bridging the gender gap: why do so few girls study Stem subjects?
https://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2018/mar/08/bridging-the-gender-gap-why-do-so-few-girls-study-stem-subjects
Respond
In this second discussion, you will be able to choose between a personal reflection on gender equality in action within your subject area and the challenges that still remain, or a research-based approach where you introduce an inpiring female role model within your discipline to help overcome gender stereotypes.