Techbridge: An Innovative Program with a Big Impact
The mission of Techbridge is to both promote girls’ interest and skills in science, technology, and engineering through multi-faceted programs, as well as to develop resources for teachers, role models, families and partners. Since its founding by Chabot Space & Science Center in 2000, Techbridge has served over 5,000 girls in grades 5-12. Our goal is to change girls' lives, by increasing their choices for the future through consistent, personal support.
Techbridge has also built a strong network of support for girls by working with 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 enabled us to disseminate our training and 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, Techbridge has adapted its curriculum and has distributed programs-in-a-box to Girl Scout Councils nationwide. Chevron supports the expansion of after-school programs into Contra Costa county, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation enables the development of a scale-up model that will be replicated beyond the Bay Area.
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.
Benefits for Girls
Skills Development through Hands-on Projects
Not many girls have the chance to work with their hands in the classroom; with Techbridge, however, they have the chance to build robots and take 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 us otherwise. Techbridge curriculum encourages girls to build with LEGOS and fix household appliances. We see first hand that experiences like these help girls find technology and engineering less intimidating and more interesting as career options.
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.