About GALS Program
Program Aims
GALS offers engaging educational experiences for girls to expand their understanding of STEM and raise their awareness of potential study and career options available to them. The overall goal is to foster girls’ interests in STEM and entrepreneurship, develop STEM skills and knowledge, and build their professional networks.
We work with girls and their teachers from local primary and secondary schools. Girls are supported to work collaboratively in small teams to develop innovative solutions to industry-inspired problems using the design process and entrepreneurial thinking. They are assisted by female STEM professionals or other experts relevant to their problems. This hands-on experience is further enriched by skills workshops focused on teamwork, leadership and communication.
The program aims to:
expose girls to alternative education pathways and a wide range of rewarding STEM occupations
change the culture of participating schools (leaders, teachers and students), and of broader the community to acknowledge STEM as a normal career pathway for girls
to foster an environment where girls are seen as future leaders and entrepreneurs in STEM
support the use of contemporary problems in STEM teaching in schools
involve industry partnerships in knowledge transfer into education
GALS Makes Girls Visible in Three Ways:
Public celebration: The GALS teams present their solutions in a 5-minute presentation at a public celebration to parents, school members and others.
Public Showcase: The girls’ posters are displayed for a week in a public location, e.g., town library, sports precinct, shopping centre.
School celebration: Schools are encouraged to showcase the girls’ work in their school community through newsletters, school assemblies, peer presentations, or displays. Also, parents can assist the girls’ with their projects, eg by teaching them to sew.
Core Elements of the GALS Program
ELEMENTS
WORKSHOPS
1
Student works: located, online, facilitated
Entrepreneurship, design process, teamwork, leadership, communication
Teacher professional development
SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER
2
In-school support
Teacher learning
WEBSITE RESOURCES
3
Problem cards
Modules
Represent student achievements
GALS mascots
PUBLIC LAUNCH SHOWCASE
4
Poster & presentation
Public showcase
Public celebration
STEM MENTORING
5
STEM Industries
STEM Professionals
STEM Research Students
Opportunities to lead
Design, Entrepreneurship, Creativity
Teacher & school support
Connecting to industry & community
Solving real-world problems
INSPIRING GIRLS THROUGH: