Techbridge
Impact
Surveys show that Techbridge gets girls excited about STEM, increases their confidence, and expands their career options. Techbridge leaders believe that, with additional funding over the next three years, they could reach at least 1,000 girls through their afterschool programs, and 25,000 girls nationally through their partnership with Girl Scout councils.
Accomplished
- Need Accomplished
- Evaluation Developing
- Sustainability Accomplished
- Replication & Scalability Developing
- Partnerships Accomplished
- Capacity Accomplished
- Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished
- STEM Practices Accomplished
- Inspiration Accomplished
- Under-Represented Groups Accomplished
Chevron is proud to partner with Techbridge and support their STEM afterschool programs and support for families and afterschool teachers. Together, we are increasing STEM literacy and learning outcomes by getting students excited about STEM and increasing the capacity of teachers and districts to provide high-quality STEM education.
Manager, Education and Corporate Programs, Chevron
Design Principles
The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy. Programs must be Accomplished (
) across all Design Principles, or be Developing (
) in a maximum of three areas.
Overarching Principles
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Need Accomplished
Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.
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Evaluation Developing
Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.
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Sustainability Accomplished
Ensure work is sustainable.
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Replication & Scalability Developing
Demonstrate replicability and scalability.
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Partnerships Accomplished
Create high impact partnerships.
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Capacity Accomplished
Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.
STEM Principles
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Challenging & Relevant Content Accomplished
Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience.
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STEM Practices Accomplished
Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.
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Inspiration Accomplished
Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.
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Under-Represented Groups Accomplished
Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.
Program Overview
The mission of Techbridge is to promote girls’ interest and skills in science, technology, and engineering. Techbridge provides multi-faceted programs for girls and supporting resources for teachers, role models, families and partners. Techbridge afterschool programs take place once a week for two hours after school. Each serves 20-25 girls with one program coordinator and one or two teachers. The program goals are as follows: * Girls will increase their science, technology, and engineering skills through engaging, hands-on projects. * Girls will be exposed to expanded career options in the fields of science, technology, and engineering through role models and worksite visits. * Girls will pursue studies and careers in science, technology, and engineering. * Girls will increase their confidence levels in science, technology, and engineering. In 2008, Techbridge formally launched Girls Go Techbridge, a partnership with Girl Scout councils, which brings Techbridge curriculum and career resources to Girl Scout councils nationwide. In the pilot, selected councils were in Northern California, Central Texas, Central Maryland and West Central Florida. In 2010, the Noyce Foundation awarded a scale-up grant to expand the partnership to reach 15,000 Girl Scouts over three years.
Funders and Partners
Funders: Stephen Bechtel Fund, National Science Foundation, Noyce Foundation, Chevron Corporation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Strategic Partners: Girl Scout councils, National Girls Collaborative Project, Society of Women Engineers