National Training

Join Donna Milgram, IWITTS Executive Director and WomenTech Educators Course Developer, for two days in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area at a Train-the-Trainer workshop.

In addition to sharing proven recruitment and retention strategies, Ms. Milgram will reveal the latest research findings from our NSF-funded CalWomenTech Project and provide you with everything you need to lead the workshop yourself.

What You'll Learn

• Discover best practices.
• Learn new recruitment and retention strategies.
• Explore gender-specific learning styles.
• Work through recruitment and retention case studies.
• Create an action plan.
• Learn how to train others.
• Interact and have fun!

Who Should Attend

• Female and male technology and science instructors, school administrators, counselors, outreach, tech-prep and equity coordinators.
• Those working with middle schools, high schools, two-year colleges and four-year universities.
• Bring a team and enjoy group discounts!

Your Workshop Leader

Donna Milgram, Executive Director of IWITTS (bio), has conducted national and state trainings and workshops in 43 states.She is the Principal Investigator of the CalWomenTech Project, highlighted by the National Science Foundation in 2009 for being an exemplary and effective project.

At our WomenTech Educators Train-the-Trainer Workshop, you’ll learn strategies that work!

• 

  Discover Best Practices. The WomenTech Training is based on best practices and is always solutions-oriented.
• Learn New Recruitment Strategies. Learn a menu of new recruitment strategies (video) that cost just a little or nothing at all based on proven best practice methods from urban, rural and suburban schools. Learn the secret to recruiting women and girls that spans across ALL recruitment strategies.
• Explore Gender-Specific Learning Styles. Concentrate on an in-depth module on gender differences in learning styles (video). Learn how to excite and engage female students in technology by teaching to their learning style; help technophobic female students overcome their fear of breaking the equipment; incorporate bridge activities and course modules that will enable ALL of your students to succeed in the technology classroom and much more.  (Our strategies also improve the retention rates of male students!)
• Work through Retention Case Studies. Problem solve with colleagues on retention challenges that arise in classes where the number of female students is small. Help your female students succeed in the technology classroom.
• Create an Action Plan. Develop an action plan to recruit women to your traditionally male-dominated classes and then put the plan to action right away to retain women in your classrooms with both secondary and community college recruitment strategies.
• Interact and Have Fun! Through interactive video, case studies, online examples and lively PowerPoint presentations, you get an exciting and extremely informative session, plus everything you need to know to educate others. And, since the bulk of the workshop is group work, it's also a great opportunity to interact with and learn from others in your field.

Proven Results

• Increased Recruitment & Retention Rates. In IWITTS’ NSF funded CalWomenTech Project, the schools that implemented the recruitment strategies actually saw an increase in female enrollment of 10%-15% within 15 months. In addition, schools that successfully implemented the retention strategies had both an increase in the completion rates of women (some by as much as 20%-40%) as well as men (video).
• Project Highlighted by NSF. The Project was highlighted by NSF for demonstrating significant achievement and program effectiveness to the Committee for Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Performance Assessment.

Bonus Products

Each  participant will receive:

• Our best practices WomenTech Training Manual (available only through this workshop)
• The WomenTech Best Practices CD ($50 value)
• The WomenTech Educators Tool Kit ($180 value) which includes our: 
  • Video and Video Facilitator's Guide
  • WomenTech PowerPoint
  • Trainer's Workshop Guide
  • Bibliography
  • Participant's Workbooks

Watch IWITTS Executive Director & workshop leader Donna Milgram lead a workshop.

• Find out how schools that successfully implemented the retention strategies had both an increase in the completion rates of women as well as men. (video)
• Discover gender differences in learning styles. (video)
• Learn a menu of new recruitment strategies. (video)

Here is a sample of enthusiastic reviews IWITTS’ national training has received from participants.

"This workshop provides participants with a plethora of useful strategies for recruiting and retaining girls and women in technical programs. An exceptional educational experience."

~ Shirley Chenault, Ed.D. Dean of Resource Development, Weatherford College, Texas

"This workshop really answered my questions on how to interest women in IT careers, and also how to retain them. I feel I have a bag of tricks to take back home."

~ Toni Black, Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico

"I have been waiting for almost a year to attend this workshop and it was well worth the wait. The training has exceeded my expectations."

~ Christa Jones, Training Coordinator, Mountain View College, Dallas, Texas

"Donna, with great eloquence and intelligence, taught us workable strategies to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of women's progress in high skill, high wage careers."

~ Claire Rubach, Academic Counselor, Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA

"This training provided our college team with guidance and time to develop an action plan for our program. This would not have been possible without attending."

~ Diana Avila, Counselor/Coordinator -- Southwestern College, Center for Technical Education and Career Success/Women's Resource Center and Former Chair, California Joint Special Population Advisory Committee (JSPAC)

“Thank you, Donna for a great workshop even though I have knowledge of equity and non-traditional issues, I have learned a lot, Mahalo!.”

~ Cathy “Wehrman, Counselor, Kapiolani, Honolulu, HI

Hotel Information

The workshop rate for the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Emeryville, CA is $109. To receive the special rate, call (510) 547-7888 for reservations and say you are attending the IWITTS WomenTech Workshop by September 14, 2010.

The hotel is only 6 miles from Downtown San Francisco by car or 15 minutes via BART (rail). It is less than 10 miles from UC Berkeley, Downtown Oakland, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, SF Chinatown and Alcatraz. Shops and restaurants are available within walking distance.

Schedule

October 14th, 2010: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
October 15th, 2010: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Workshop registration takes place 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Oct 14th.
• Both days, enjoy a free continental breakfast 1/2 hour before the workshop starts.

Directions From Airport to Conference Hotel

Closest Airport

Both the San Francisco and Oakland airports are close to the hotel. The Oakland airport is an easier, less busy airport than SF International and is preferred by many local residents.

By Shuttle

From Oakland Airport Shuttle service is available from Oakland International Airport via Bay Porter Express Shuttle or 1-415-467-1800 for approximately $25 each way.

From San Francisco International Airport Those arriving from San Francisco International Airport can arrange for transportation through the Bay Porter Express Shuttle or 1-415-467-1800 for approximately $32 each way.

By Car

From Oakland Airport (12 miles) Take HWY 880 North/Oakland to 980. To 580 West. To 80 East/San Rafael-Berkeley. Take first exit, Powell Street. Turn right. Go to the first light and turn right on Christie -- the hotel is on your left. Parking is free.

From San Francisco Airport (16 miles) Take 101 North/San Francisco. Once in San Francisco, take 80 East to the Bay Bridge/Sacramento. Once you've crossed the Bay Bridge stay to left and remain on 80. Once through the inter-change go to far right lane to the first exit which is Powell. (You will see the blue IKEA building on your right before you exit). Turn right. Go to the first light and turn right on Christie -- hotel is on left. Parking is free.

Restaurants and Sightseeing

Click here (pdf)