Introduction
Welcome to the “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” WebQuest! Celebrated on February 11th each year, this day highlights the vital role that women and girls play in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Through this WebQuest, you will explore the achievements of women in science, research inspirational figures and creatively promote gender equality in STEM fields.
Task
After completing this WebQuest, students will:
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Investigate the achievements of female scientists by using reliable online sources.
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Present scientific contributions clearly through written explanations and class discussions.
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Create a digital awareness poster that promotes gender equality and encourages girls to pursue STEM fields.
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Reflect on the impact of women in science and advocate for inclusivity and representation in STEM careers.
Process
Step 1: Research a Female Scientist & Present Her Achievements
- Select a female scientist who has made significant contributions to her field. Here are a few examples:
- Marie Curie: Pioneer in radioactivity and two-time Nobel Prize winner.
- Rosalind Franklin: Key figure in the discovery of DNA structure.
- Mae Jemison: First African-American woman in space.
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Conduct Research: Use reliable online resources to gather information about your chosen scientist. Look for her background and education, her major discoveries or contributions to science, how her work has impacted the world or scientific community.
Useful links:
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/17-top-female-scientists-who-have-changed-the-worl/
https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/learn-shout-out-for-women-in-science
Step 2: Share your findings & discuss
Add your findings to the Padlet
https://padlet.com/meddiet4health/research-a-female-scientist-and-present-her-achievements-zvd7bnc9xez8f3er explaining why your chosen scientist’s contributions are important and how they inspire future generations of women in STEM. Present your findings to your classmates, explaining why your chosen scientist’s contributions are important and how they inspire future generations of women in STEM.
Step 3: Create an Awareness Poster for Girls in STEM
Use a web 2.0 tool of your choice (i.e. Canva) to create an engaging poster that promotes gender equality in science and encourages girls to explore STEM careers. Your poster should include:
- An inspirational Title that encourages girls to pursue science.
- Images and Graphics of female scientists, science-related imagery or symbolic graphics.
Share your poster to the following Padlet: https://padlet.com/meddiet4health/awareness-poster-for-girls-in-stem-d3fiysokv9antggy
Evaluation
Students wirk will be evaluated according to the following rubric:
| Criteria | 5 - Excellent | 4 - Proficient | 3 - Satisfactory | 2 - Needs Improvement | 1 - Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Quality | Thorough research using multiple reliable sources; detailed background, discoveries, and impact clearly articulated | Good research with mostly reliable sources; background, discoveries, and impact mostly clear and accurate | Adequate research with some reliable sources; basic background and contributions included | Limited research with few sources; incomplete or unclear background and contributions | Minimal or no research; inaccurate or missing key information |
| Presentation Content | Clearly explains the scientist’s achievements and their significance; connects to inspiring future generations with strong reasoning | Explains achievements and significance with minor lapses; connection to inspiring future generations evident | Basic explanation of achievements; limited connection to inspiring future generations | Incomplete or unclear explanation; weak or missing connection to future inspiration | Presentation lacks explanation or relevance; no connection to inspiring future generations |
| Communication & Engagement | Presentation is confident, well-organized, and engages classmates effectively | Presentation is clear and organized with some engagement | Presentation is somewhat clear but lacks organization or engagement | Presentation is disorganized or difficult to follow; minimal engagement | Presentation is unclear, disorganized, or not delivered |
| Poster Design & Creativity | Poster is highly engaging with an inspirational title; excellent use of images/graphics relevant to STEM and gender equality | Poster is engaging with a clear title; good use of relevant images/graphics | Poster has a title and some images/graphics; moderately engaging | Poster lacks a clear title or relevant visuals; limited creativity | Poster is missing title and visuals; not engaging or relevant |
| Message & Impact of Poster | Poster strongly promotes gender equality and encourages girls in STEM with a compelling and clear message | Poster promotes gender equality and encouragement with a mostly clear message | Poster conveys a basic message about gender equality and STEM encouragement | Poster’s message is unclear or weak in promoting gender equality and STEM | Poster does not promote gender equality or STEM |
Conclusion
Through this WebQuest students will explore the achievements of remarkable female scientists and learn how their contributions have shaped the world of science. By sharing their findings and creating an awareness poster, they highlight the importance of representation and encourage more girls to follow STEM pathways and pursue their own scientific dreams.
Credits
Teacher Page
This WebQuest was edited by two members of USGGED,Türkiye as part of the activities of the "Mediterranean Diet for Overall Health" (MedDiet4Health) Erasmus+ project (Project number: 2023-2-EL01-KA210-VET-000183592).
Through this WebQuest, students strengthened their research skills by gathering accurate information from reliable sources about influential female scientists. They improved their presentation skills by summarizing their findings and discussing them with peers. By designing an awareness poster, they enhanced their digital literacy and creativity. They also developed critical thinking and social awareness by reflecting on gender equality in STEM and the importance of representation and empowerment.
This WebQuest reflects only the author’s views. The European Commission’s support for the production of this WebQuest does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.