Techbridge: An Innovative Program with a Big Impact
The mission of Techbridge is to encourage girls in technology, science and engineering. Techbridge offers after-school and summer programs with hands-on projects, career exploration opportunities, and academic and career guidance. Since its founding by Chabot Space & Science Center , Techbridge has served over 2,500 girls in grades 5-12. Our mantra is to change girls' lives, one girl at a time, reflecting our philosophy to bring about significant change in a student's life through consistent, personal support and a dedication to increasing their choices for the future.
Techbridge also works to build a strong network of support for girls, and has reached over 7,000 educators, role models, families, and partners through professional development, trainings, publications, and other activities across the country. A grant from the National Science Foundation enables us to disseminate our resources for role models, including an outreach guide and accompanying toolkit CD funded by Google.
Techbridge works closely with partners to expand impact beyond our community. With support from the Noyce Foundation and the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, Techbridge is adapting its curriculum and rolling out programs-in-a-box to Girl Scouts.
Ongoing evaluations play a vital part in continually improving and refining the program at each of Techbridge's programs. For more information on outcomes and results, please visit Highlights of Techbridge's Successes
History of Techbridge
Based on extensive research, Techbridge was launched in 2000 by Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California to expand the options of girls in underserved communities and to address the shortage of women and underrepresented groups in technology and engineering. Beginning with 11 elementary, middle, and high schools in Oakland , Berkeley and also at the California School for the Blind, the program has since expanded to 17 schools across three school districts.
In 2004, Techbridge teamed up with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Shriver Center to launch ESTEEM (Enhancing Science & Technology Education & Exploration Mentoring), which impacted over 300 students in underserved areas of Baltimore.
A grant from the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation supported Techbridge after-school programs from 2004 -2007 and helped us expand to new schools in underserved areas. In addition, the generous support of Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation has supported the Techbridge Summer Academy and Techbridge after-school programs.
Going Forward
Techbridge is partnering with the Girl Scouts to launch Techbridge programs-in-a-box to inspire thousands more girls in technology and engineering. Partner Councils for the pilot launch are Girl Scouts of Northern California, Girl Scouts of Central Texas, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.
Benefits for Girls
Skills Development through Hands-on Projects
Not many girls have the chance to work with their hands in the classroom, but Techbridge introduces projects like building robots and taking apart computers. Since girls may not ask to help with household projects or include tools on their wish lists, parents assume that they aren’t interested. But our experience tells otherwise. When given the chance, girls do enjoy building with LEGOS and fixing household appliances. We see first hand that experiences like these help girls find technology and engineering less intimidating and more interesting as a career option.
Please visit our sample curriculum for more information.
Career Exploration
Because image is important to adolescent girls, we look to role models to show girls the interesting and useful applications for technology, science, and engineering. Why prepare for a career in technology if you think only nerds work with computers? Why consider a career in engineering if you have no idea what rewards come from design and engineering projects? Interactions with role models and field trips to worksites allow girls to learn about career opportunities first hand. Past field trips have included visits to Yahoo, Google, Intel, IDEO, Apple and UC Berkeley.
Leadership Development
Girls learn leadership skills, overcome their fears of public speaking, and develop a confident and engaging presentation style. In school and in the world of work, projects are often accomplished through teamwork and students learn how to communicate their ideas in Techbridge.
Teamwork
Techbridge encourages girls to expand their network of acquaintances and work with partners outside their circle of friends. Through icebreakers, the girls in Techbridge are encouraged to get to know one another. During circle time, they check in and discuss topics like career aspirations and recent achievements. In group projects, the girls develop interpersonal skills and learn to work successfully as part of a team.