It is an NSF-funded project (0422703) developed through a partnership between UMBC's Center for Women and Information Technology and the Shriver Center, and the California-based Chabot Space and Science Center. The program includes after-school, weekend, and summer camp components and will serve over 300 7th and 8th grade students in three years. Each student will receive over 120 hours of contact from UMBC undergraduate and graduate students who serve as both role models and classroom consultants in the program. ESTEEM focuses on building up girls’ (and boys’) interest in math, science, and technology with a special focus on Information Technology (IT). This motivates the students to take technology-related classes in the future, and encourages them to consider careers in IT or engineering fields.

ESTEEM supports current state and national initiatives that serve to develop more diverse elective technology classes, programs, and the workforce. Further, ESTEEM gives students, particularly girls, the encouragement, confidence, and skills they need to do well in rigorous mathematics, science, engineering and IT courses while they are in school. The ESTEEM program also provides the knowledge and skills the students can use in other courses.

Benefits to participating in the ESTEEM program include the following:

• Enhanced understanding of science and information technology (IT) concepts and applications in future learning and career options;
• Awareness of the possibility of college as a viable life option through interactions with positive role models;
• Continued support among parents and students to ensure students feel fully supported;

For the 2006-07 school year, six middle schools, in two counties, will participate in ESTEEM. Participating schools located in Anne Arundel County include Brooklyn Park Middle School, Corkran Middle School, and Old Mill Middle North. Participating schools located in Baltimore County include Catonsville Middle School, Deep Creek Middle School, and Dundalk Middle School.

If interested, please contact the appropriate participating school.

Middle School Student Involvement

Participating students have a wonderful opportunity set before them. With the ESTEEM program, they get to interact with students that share the same interests. They become critical thinkers and most importantly, they have fun while learning and experimenting with science and technology. Field trips help the student make the connection between the lessons taught in the after school sessions and their real life applications.

Apply to be part of the ESTEEM team by viewing the Student Application.

Parents play an important role in the development of their child’s career interests. For that reason, ESTEEM makes every effort to involve parents in this program. In addition to encouraging their children to participate and transporting them, parents must also reinforce at home the educational messages that students learn in the program: 1) they can do anything, 2) technology literacy is important for everyone's future, 3) technology education is a great career path for high income jobs, and 4) taking the right academic steps now can help students achieve their goals.

Learn about a paid position by reviewing the position description and application for the Parent Liaison position.

While teacher education is not a component of this program, it is important to cultivate and support teachers willing to commit to long-term participation in support of this project to ensure programs' sustainability. Teachers need not know a lot about technology, but must be open and excited to learn. By working with the UMBC Graduate Students, the teachers will learn about technology applications along with the students while helping the technical advisor for the project, graduate student, and undergraduate students understand how to work with middle school students.

For additional information about the roles of teachers, please review the Classroom Consultant position description and application.

UMBC Student Involvement

UMBC students can be involved with ESTEEM in two ways. First, graduate students help to develop curriculum, supervise and mentor undergraduates, work collaboratively with teachers and parents, and develop their own teaching skills as UMBC Graduate Students. Undergraduates also have an important role working with teachers and parents to provide a fun and educational experience for secondary school students. All students should be enrolled in a technology-related (STEM) major and be interested in working with middle school students. Select the links below to review the position description and if interested complete and submit an application.

CWIT Fellows Application (undergraduates) UMBC Graduate Student Application (graduate students)

Contacting ESTEEM:

If you are interested in volunteering or applying for an ESTEEM position, please contact CWIT (Center for Women & Information Technology) by email: cwit@umbc.edu with the subject line: ESTEEM INQUIRY. Please describe in detail the information you are requesting.

Would You Like to Know What is Happening in ESTEEM?

• Feel free to view Volume 1, Volume 2, and Volume 3 of our ESTEEM Newsletter Series.
• Look over the curriculum for Fall 2006.
• See a list of ESTEEM’s staff!
• View the brochure!

The material on this website is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the Grant No. 0422703. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of ESTEEM and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.