jolene gustafson erin hogeboom · jolene gustafson erin hogeboom the connectory makes the...

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The Connectory

Jolene Gustafson

Erin Hogeboom

The Connectory makes the connections to STEM learning opportunities that inspire young people to explore, discover, and create.

• History

• Families & Children

• Providers

• Programs vs Opportunities

• Widget & API

• 2016 Plans

• Questions

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The Connectory’s History• 2009 – Time Warner Cable (TWC) created as a core

element of its Connect a Million Minds initiative

• 2014 – Sunsetting of TWC’s Connectory partner (Coalition for Science Afterschool); RFPs sent to • Afterschool Alliance

• Association for Science and Technology Centers (ASTC)

• EdLab Group/National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP)

• Education Development Center (EDC)

• National AfterSchool Association (NAA)

• All of these partners joined NGCP in a single proposal, submitted in the spring of 2014

Launched June 2015

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NGC Program Directory

+ Families & Children

Addition of Opportunities

• 2,031 active opportunities (not all-time)

• 47 states represented; 22 states with 20+

• Most active states:1. California (264)

2. Texas (157)

3. New York (154)

4. North Carolina (147)

5. Washington (140)

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Online Collaboration“The process of achieving a goal that could not

be attained efficiently by an individual or organization acting alone.”

(Wang, Haertel, and Walberg, 1997, p.7)

Program Reach

• 4,251 active programs in The Connectory

• All 50 states + DC represented

• 21,787,640 youth served• Girls = 13,829,114

• Boys = 10,453,002 57% girls

43%boys

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Connect, Share, and Collaborate

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Programs vs. Opportunities

The Connectory has two types of entries – our definitions may vary from yours and this sometimes causes confusion when people begin to enter data.

• Program – Organizations that provide STEM opportunities and are listed on the Partner Search page, which is only viewable by other program providers and there to aid collaboration. 

• Opportunity – Summer camps, workshops, career fairs, competitions, and other time‐bound STEM events. These can be seen by families and the general public on The Connectory.  

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Your Turn: Program or Opportunity?

SciGirls Saturday4th and 5th grade girls in Elizabethtown Independent Schools come together for high excitement STEM classes. Favorites include Dough Creatures, Coding, and Cranks among others! Demonstrations with Makey-Makeys show girls how exciting Computer Science can be.

Girls Rock MathAt Girls Rock Math we reinforce that math is fun and imaginative. Our mission is to provide thought-provoking, creative experiences in math, empowering girls to develop confidence in their skills and a life-long interest in mathematics.

Your Turn: Program or Opportunity?

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Be a Maker at the Betty BrinnChildren's MuseumExplore hands-on learning sessions hosted by the Betty Brinn Children's Museum that offers visitors the opportunity to explore a broad range of new materials, real tools, and exciting technologies that make it fun to learn new skills and processes. Workshops are held daily.

Your Turn: Program or Opportunity?

Beyond the Site: Widget

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Beyond the Site: Maker Ed API

Beyond the Site: 2016 Plans

• Better mobile experience

• API updates

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Your Turn: Opportunity Hunt

1. Go to the “Find an Opportunity” page

2. Search for a “Competition” near your home zip code.

Your Turn: Partner Pursuit

1. Go to the “Partner Search” page

2. Search for a program that has listed “sharing resources” under Collaboration Interests

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Collaboratives and The Connectory

Questions?

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Stay Connected

http://www.theconnectory.org

info@theconnectory.org