This workshop focuses on practices that support ALL students engaging in productive STEM talk and the way talk occurs in traditional STEM learning environments has served to marginalize and exclude diverse students. This workshop will also examine discourse in STEM and provides participants with multiple tools for encouraging and supporting the development of a positive STEM identity through productive STEM talk.

This workshop is built on a foundation of affirming student identities by designing curriculum that is relevant and responsive to students' lives and cultures. We identify STEM learning experiences that affirm positive identity as a STEM learner and examine why many students from marginalized communities have been excluded from that affirmation. Participants explore affirming approaches that utilize students’ funds of knowledge, make connections to students’ communities, and honor their identities and priorities.

This is a virtual workshop that will not be recorded.

Facilitated by: Louise Wilmes (Otoe-Missouria Tribe), Marcus Vela and Dan Prince. 

Audience: Community STEM educators, classroom teachers, and community members

Cost: Free

This workshop is part of a series of workshops that were developed by the PMSP Equity LeNS (Equity Leadership Network for STEM) team, a group of equity experts and STEM education experts. The goal of these workshops is to empower educators, community program staff, and others who work with marginalized or underserved youth to effectively serve as an Ally*.

MANY THANKS TO THIS YEAR’S WORKSHOP SERIES SPONSORS!

*Ally - Someone who makes the commitment and effort to recognize their privilege (based on gender, class, race, sexual identity, etc.) and work in solidarity with oppressed groups in the struggle for justice. Allies understand that it is in their own interest to end all forms of oppression, even those from which they may benefit in concrete ways. (Center for the Study of Social Policy)