Resources for Educators

Resources for Educators

The barriers faced by underrepresented groups in STEM are widespread, but sparks of change can start in the classroom.

We have pulled together some useful information to support educators trying to increase participation and engagement in STEM.

Data from the most recent STEM Equity monitor reveal educators perceive boys as more confident than girls in STEM-related subject areas, with girls showing higher levels of interest and confidence in humanities-related subjects.  

Educators perceive boys as more confident than girls in all STEM subjects: 

  • science – 29% believed boys are more confident, 5% believed girls are more confident 
  • technology – 40% believed boys are more confident, 3% believed girls are more confident
  • engineering – 61% believed boys are more confident, 2% believed girls are more confident
  • mathematics – 33% believed boys are more confident, 7% believed girls are more confident

Girls’ confidence levels significantly influence their participation in STEM subjects at school and perceptions of STEM careers. Children as young as six can be deterred from STEM education. Young girls may believe they aren’t ‘good’ at STEM or that STEM isn’t for them. This perception significantly impacts subject selection as girls progress through the school years. The attrition rate of young women and girls in STEM-related subjects significantly increases in the senior years.

Subject

12-13

14-17

18-21

22-25

Science

65%

67%

63%

55%

Technology

68%

56%

56%

56%

Engineering

51%

30%

27%

27%

Mathematics

57%

71%

56%

50%

Not all students get the opportunity to participate equally in STEM learning. Studies show that parents ask boys questions about numbers and counting three times more often than girls. Girls in STEM classrooms are often asked fewer questions and given less talking time than boys. This can sometimes be an effect of teachers’ and parents’ biases and unfounded stereotypes about girls’ abilities in STEM.

Educators have an opportunity in the classroom to encourage and inspire STEM education for everyone. Creating inclusive learning environments will encourage greater participation in STEM studies and careers from everyone.

Six classroom tips to improve participation in STEM education

 1) Encourage the development of students’ STEM identity 

Studies suggest that when children don’t develop a STEM identity from an early age, they drop out of STEM subjects because of a lack of identification with STEM subjects and careers. STEM programs in schools, such as ‘Fleer’s Conceptual PlayWorld’ help children develop STEM identities through play.

 2) Incorporate diverse role models

The role models represented in the classroom influence how young people identify themselves and influence what they think they can and cannot do. Many women have led the way in STEM. Resources like interviews of women in Australia in the Girls in STEM Toolkit showcase the stories of women doing great things in STEM.

 3) Flip the gender stereotype 

When students ask science questions, position women role models as the ‘experts’ answering kids’ questions or helping children find out the answer. In children’s books and media, the characters who are usually brave, curious and risk-takers (e.g. explorer, scientist) are men, and women are portrayed in caring or submissive roles (e.g. doing domestic jobs or princesses needing to be rescued). You can challenge or flip these gender stereotypes and try to find examples of characters who challenge the stereotype. Swap the characters or their actions in the story you’re reading. 

 4) Steer clear of resources and materials that reinforce gender stereotypes

Avoid resources and materials that may endorse gender stereotypes that represent either girls or boys in predetermined roles. If such representation is present in school material, use this as an opportunity to apply critical thinking and give students the tools to challenge and question the stereotypes depicted. 

 5) Identify connections between learning areas and STEM education and careers

Identify clear connections between learning material and the opportunities offered by STEM Careers for both genders. Interactive websites such as Future You and the Girls in STEM Toolkit clearly show the connections between subject areas and STEM careers with equal representation across the genders.  

 6) Reduce bias and stereotypes in activities and play 

Be aware of your language and actions when doing activities with students.  Avoid reinforcing stereotypes and role model behaviour and actions that challenge stereotypes, e.g. women exploring, building and fixing, and men helping, cooking and dancing.  

For more resources on STEM education and tips on creating inclusive learning environments that encourage girls in STEM, head to the Girls in STEM Toolkit.

Watch this insightful discussion about challenging stereotypes

Our STEM Education Resources

Other Resources

The GIST provides teachers with access to free, inclusive STEM lesson ideas, features lots of role models and is packed with resources, activities and a career quiz.

Careers with STEM is a great source of information on a range of exciting STEM careers and features real-life role models, teaching resources and more.

A complete guide to careers in science, technology, engineering & mathematics from GradAustralia.

Australia’s first centralised national portal for exciting and engaging STEM activities from around the country.

STEM Women is an initiative from the Australian Academy of Science. It’s an online directory of women in Australia working in STEM. 

Primary Connections is an initiative from the Australian Academy of Science. It offers educative curriculum resources and professional learning to enhance primary school teachers’ confidence and capacity for teaching science.

Use this free checklist to audit your classroom and teaching style.

Resources for students, teachers and parents to plan maths study pathways from the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute.

This body of research focuses on the barriers to participation in engineering, with a focus on identifying the value of various interventions to improve diversity.

Create a gender inclusive teaching and learning environment in your classroom by following these seven principles from The Girls in STEM Toolkit. 

Research suggests that boys tend to answer more questions and get more attention in the classroom. This template will help you to assess your classroom interactions. 

DART (Distance and Rural Technology) Learning is an initiative of the New South Wales Department of Education. It provides students with access to a rich array of virtual learning experiences.

Explore in-demand roles and learn about career opportunities possible with a UNSW Science degree.

Find out how the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute’s Research and Higher Education national program supports undergraduate students through to early-career researchers and professionals.

Superstars of STEM is an initiative from Science and Technology Australia to increase the number of visible diverse role models featured in the media as experts in STEM. 

EA Junior Club provides activities and resources to parents and primary school teachers who want to bring engineering into the classroom.

References

The Girls in STEM Toolkit. (2020). Classroom strategies for inclusive STEM learning environments. 

Women in STEM Decadal Plan . (2019). Australian Academy of Science.

Not girly, not sexy, not glamorous’: primary school girls’ and parents’ constructions of science aspirations.  Archer, L, DeWitt J, Osborne et al. ‘Pedagogy, Culture & Society (2013), 21.

STEM Equity Monitor. (2021-20). Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Explore resources for at home

We’ve shared some useful resources to support families to engage children with STEM.

Explore resources for students

We have shared resources to ensure students can explore the most exciting STEM careers of today and of the future.