Course Description 
By middle school, girls tend to lose confidence in their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related abilities, which greatly reduces their likelihood of pursuing a STEM career. The loss of confidence has nothing to do with their innate capabilities, but with the social barriers girls and non-binary individuals face from a young age. Middle School is a vulnerable time when individuals begin to forge their own paths, which gives Adult Advocates a unique opportunity to ignite and sustain an interest in STEM. Adult advocates will learn how to combat the fear of failure, social stigmas, and gender biases through the power of creating a supportive learning environment, forming connections, and sharing experiences.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• Recognize at least 3 social barriers girls and non-binary middle schoolers face in STEM spaces
• Identify at least three strategies to effectively engage and excite middle school aged students in STEM topics

Duration: 52 minutes

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