2003 Comments & Survey Results

The following information is from the final evaluation of the 2003 Middle School Girls Conference.

Comments

From Presenters: 19 of 25 responded (Number in parenthesis means number of people who made this similar comment)

What I liked best was:

• The girls' enthusiasm. (5)
• Food was great. (6)
• The keynoter was excellent. (3)
• The conference was well run. (4)
• Enjoyed meeting other presenters - would be fun to take the time during the keynote speaker for the presenters to meet as a group, introduce themselves, and briefly discuss what they do. Length of time seemed just right - no time for boredom. Appreciated the help we got with our set-up needs.
• Having groups of girls that listened, answered and asked questions. It seemed like some of them actually looked up the topics that they were going to be hearing about beforehand - that was great and I would encourage more teachers to suggest this to their girls. I really enjoyed sharing science with the girls.
• I liked the whole thought behind the conference. Girls need to know that there are good jobs out there for them.
• Apparently what I wrote caused more students to select me this year. These students seemed very interested and attentive to my "picture book of microorganisms."
• The group sizes between sessions were much more even than last year - Thanks! There was at least one adult with the girls at each of the sessions. This was helpful. Just their presence helped keep the girls focused.
• The girls co-mingling from all around the area. I appreciated the set-up you provided for our session. We had everything we needed.
• Thank you Ray! Sorry we didn't get there in time to give out flyers about the Women in Trades Fair - but I saw many teachers I already know through workshops and past Fair attendance, so I think more teachers/counselors already knew about Oregon Tradeswomen. We really had a great time presenting and think y'all hosted an awesome event. Can't wait to see the wrap up numbers and evals.
• The number of girls that I was able to talk to and their bright eyed interest & curiosity. Also the fact that the organization was so good with signs everywhere and the equipment I had requested.
• Organization/email information as things progressed and reminder the last week before the conference; nice layout, more spread out; proper number of girls came to my session.
• Last year's suggestions for monitors & for equitable distribution of girls between sessions were put into action and were very successful - thank you! Also enjoyed the enthusiasm of the teachers.
• This was a blast! The information provided before the conference was very helpful. Great job!
• The girls were VERY open to questions and inquisitive about my subject material.
• Very energetic girls, parents, teachers and staff. I very much like the tone and the message in this conference.
• I really enjoyed the girls pledge.
• Seeing shy kids develop confidence with film equipment and work on teambuilding in their "crews." Seeing their engagement in the process.
• Session length/format. Also having my own session was great.
• Appreciated the amount of space provided, the double tables, and the distance between presenters.
• Also, the groups moved quickly in and out. Nice job with this. Nice accommodations/arrangements for presenters - packet, space. Great access to sinks for clean-up.

I would change:

• The welding group needs to have their own secluded space - the nose and sparks distracted the girls. Would be nice to be able to control lighting for the slide presentations.
• I would suggest having a start bell as well as an ending bell to each session - I found that with the same presentation I finished too early, ran out of time, and finished right on time in  my three presentations - having a defined start time would help! (3)
• I didn't think that the girls could hear us very well because of the welding going on in the area.
• I will ask to bring my granddaughter. My granddaughter could help show "picture book of microorganisms." My granddaughter has spent several "school holidays" in my lab when her mother had to work.
• I will try to add a 3rd session next year - please call my session FULL ESTEEM AHEAD, rather than Kathy Masarie.
• Not much - Keep up the good work!
• I suggest placing a saw horse or traffic cone with a sign at the turn into the fairground parking lot. At least a few of us ended up circling the light rail parking lot.
• The numbering of work stations and have large maps posted.
• Nothing. I like the open, yet close and casual environment. I believe, at least in my setting, it fostered confidence in asking questions and open discussion.
• It'd be nice to meet some of the other presenters.
• It was hard to speak to them because it was so loud in the building - absolutely no sound barriers. (5)
• Do participants receive any information about presenters and a way to follow-up if interested in topic? As a first time presenter I was not sure about what to expect in terms of space and facility.
• I would prefer a classroom setting so the group is enclosed without distraction from other events. Slightly smaller groups or more time with each would be great. I would prefer they do some of the "setup" so they can develop lab skills.

Other comments:

• The nurse that came with me to assist with my presentation suggested in future there should be some presenters representing "support staff" occupations e.g. nurses, physician assistants...I thought the presenter variety was amazing - I would have enjoyed listening to other presenters. Thanks for the Toblerone!
• More chairs would have been nice so the girls didn't have to carry them from one place to the other.
• Keep up the good work.
• It would be great if there was more information about the presenters available for the other presenters before the conference. There are may interesting fields and careers represented and a brief bio/job description would be great since we don't have time to visit with everyone. Feedback from presenters from the previous year about what worked well for them in their presentations and what didn't would be helpful in planning.
• It was great to be part of an event that focuses on girls. You had a great assortment of workshops that allowed for all kinds of exploration. I think the girls who attended were lucky to have an organization that tried so hard to provide them with a great day of exploration. Your keynote speaker was great, too! I don't know what you forgot except maybe photo releases. I would have liked to take photos to use on our website but without releases we can't use them.
• Thanks for your on-going support of gender equity and your to break down barriers to nontraditional careers!
• The treats for the girls at the beginning are a wonderful idea. I appreciated how smooth the registration seemed to be - shows how much worked had gone into it. Thank you for letting me be a part of it!
• Really good job this year - you got this down.
• I look forward to next year. Thanks for the great experience.
• This was my first year at the PAVTEC conference and I really enjoyed myself! I feel great to know I might make a positive difference in a young girl's life. Thank you for having me.
• Very well done. I'd be happy to help again in the future.
• Well organized and very easy to have a good time.
• It was a lot of fun!
• Don't hold it any earlier in the year - too cold in the buildings. But great for unloading a lot of stuff.
• Thank you for the opportunity.

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STUDENTS/TEACHERS/PARENTS: 26 of 27 schools responded (480+ students, 45 adults) (Number in parenthesis means number of schools that made this similar comment)

The best part was:

• welding (10)
• gels (3)
• FBI (8)
• Chinese medicine (3)
• making light switch (2)
• the stormwater game
• going to lots of stations
• different career options
• friendly, helpful presenters
• it was fun
• lunch (4)
• veterinarian (meeting the dogs) (9)
• hands-on activities (15)
• naturopathic (4)
• shuttle session (2)
• bioengineering (4)
• clinical microbiology (2)
• getting samples to take home (4)
• real-life application to students
• the people knew how to talk to us
• knowledgeable presenters (2)
• seeing other middle schoolers
• computer classes
• all of the classes
• video session (2)
• monkey toys
• robots (4)
• earbones (2)
• variety of activities
• doing experiments
• learning new things
• no boys
• missing school
• muffins

I would like to see changed:

• different keynote speaker (9)
• more variety of careers (2)
• more FBI classes
• more minority presenters
• make more slime
• speaker needed visual aids (2)
• more hands-on activities (16)
• more math & technology sessions
• more handouts/things to take home (3)
• use students in presentations
• shorter
• less lecture (11)
• more activities/experiments
• more sessions (11)
• longer sessions (4)
• put the welding outside
• more robots
• bigger signs
• girls pledge was dumb
• better snacks
• explaining directions during activity, not before
• announce and post time schedule of classes
• put number of presenter on name tags
• make signup easier to get what we signed up for
• organize seating arrangements
• would like boys to be a part of this
• more focus on schooling, practical applications, $ made per year
• microphones for presenters (8)
• more space for exhibits/speakers (3)
• clarify shoe design description
• chaperone teachers should be nicer
• something on graphic design
• more time to make nameplates
• choose groups upon arrival
• too loud
• add fashion design
• no cancellations
• warmer
• more muffins
• inform about dissection
• more students in same session
• include Columbia county on maps
• too much wait time at beginning
• time to talk more one-on-one

What I will do with the information:

• tell parents (8)
• tell friends (6)
• share with others (3)
• tell my math teachers
• teach others
• apply for internships
• for future careers (25)
• use info to create things
• use monkey toys
• current event assignment
• have nothing to do with computers
• encourage students to sign up for conference next year
• getting involved with doing stuff, not looking
• display artifacts of conference at school
• doing something that stands and makes a difference
• not to go into welding, it's dirty but enjoyed it and interested in welding as art
• write article for school newsletter
• take more science classes
• know how to sew pig's feet
• check to see if my pets are sick
• try to install light in my house
• store for future use
• future class choices
• investigate (2)
• apply when possible (2)
• speaker motivated us to change
• take more science/tech/math classes
• look at myself as a whole person
• African American speakers (2)
• never have acupuncture
• nothing

Survey Results

1. Percentages won't necessarily add to 100 percent due to rounding.
2. Numbers won't add to total attendance as some schools did not list their number of students.
3. Minority attendance continues to fluctuate since complication started in 2000 but appears to be on the rise.

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