2001 Comments & Survey Results

The following information is from the final evaluation of the 2001 Middle School Girls Conference.

Comments

From Presenters: 9 of 16 responded (number in parenthesis means number of people who made same comment)

I came today expecting:

• to tell middle school girls about microbiology
• 15 girls interested at least somewhat in math-related or drafting jobs
• to have fun exposing girls to cardiology
• to see girls excited about science
• to enjoy presenting our program to middle school girls.
• fewer girls per session, but we realize we have cool jobs and the girls like our topic.
• about what happened.

I got:

• some middle school girls who were interested in microbiology
• more girls than I expected. (2)
• great responses from the girls. I had a real sense of connection with some of them.
• 8 to 15 girls, some interested in drafting
• having fun exposing girls to cardiology
• mostly girls excited about science and math, some were just looking for a day away from school.
• a well organized event

The best part:

• having the girls ask questions which indicated they were listening and curious
• to find out that one of the girls that I met last year is pursuing math and computer science after my talk
• connecting with two or three girls. It was exhausting.
• lunch was good (3)
• interacting with the girls, their enthusiasm
• talking to the girls, watching them explore, listening to the inspirational keynote speaker.
• the activity part of our presentation
• the girls interest in learning
• questions from the girls.

I would change:

• have shorter sessions so students could learn about more careers
• shorter sessions since my presentation doesn't take long but have girls sign up for double sessions for longer ones.
• put welders off by themselves. I was hoarse trying to shout above the noise.
• be more organized
• separate rooms for presenters, have girls select sessions by math, science, math or technology
• have the number of girls in each session equal sizes (3)
• the facility
• I will bring a helper next time, too much for one person
• I would put less emphasis on gender separation. We are people first.
• background noise hard to talk over

Other comments:

• thanks for inviting me
• I appreciate the work done by this group
• we really enjoyed teaching the girls
• wonderful to see so many people excited about inspiring girls in science, math and technology
• overall, I was impressed with the organization and smoothness of the day. It was well structured.

From Schools: 13 of 14 schools responded (231 students, 19 adults) (number in parenthesis means number of schools that made this comment)

The best part was:

• hands-on activities (6)
• welding (5)
• dissections
• hydrologist activity (2)
• monkey (6)
• telephone cable
• fun with software (2)
• keynote speaker (2)
• getting out of school
• door prizes
• liked picking own sessions
• learning about job opportunities
• learned a lot of things that I did not know
• coming away with a project, result or prize (3)
• inspiring to see women in "hard" jobs
• cutting fish
• sheet metal activities (3)
• heart imaging (4)
• suturing pig feet (4)
• ear bones
• ITT (2)
• blue juice
• never knew girls could weld
• lunch
• so many choices
• honest presentations
• being independent to walk around

I would like to see changed:

• shorter keynote speech
• shorter sessions to see more things
• more lively presentations (3)
• not direct instruction
• more welders
• more medical
• sessions canceled
• fish tagging was too elementary and no hands-on activity
• add astronomy, physics, more animal stuff, marine biology, criminology, law
• step-by-step process on how to scholastically achiee their goals, jobs
• hands-on activities about profession, salary, preparation, etc
• more info on careers, schooling
• walk around and preview sessions ahead of time
• more info ahead of time on content of sessions
• better set, printed schedule
• continental breakfast for girls, make them feel important
• better building
• better signs
• too many people at stations (3)
• more hands-on activities (7)
• better prepared presenters
• shorter intros
• more sessions (4)
• more common jobs
• rooms for presentations, hard to hear (5)

Survey Results