All project outputs > Good Practice Guide: Top tips & Resources
The below are tips drawn from regional and national contacts with regards to ensuring that STEM Outreach activities are accessible to all:
- Ensure outreach materials use appropriate images and language for a diverse group
- Don’t use ‘he’ when discussing careers in construction and equally, don’t refer to particular work experience opportunities as being ‘for girls’ or ‘for boys’
- Consider how to reach disadvantaged pupils who may be excluded from some outreach programmes. Don’t impose stereotypes on young people (e.g. assuming that all African Caribbean boys want to pursue careers in sport)
- Some departments have found it useful to encourage schools to send proportionate numbers of boys and girls to their events where practicable and to include learners from black and minority ethnic groups and those with additional learning needs
- Design STEM activities or projects to appeal to both boys and girls so that everyone is engaged. Try to give students as wide an experience as possible and expose them to roles that they would not normally be familiar with
- Ask schools if any of the students have needs to should be taken into account when planning the activity – don’t assume
- Courses can be developed where students returning to HE can, through a series of web-based activities and online discussions, analyse their previous experiences and skills, identify new employment opportunities and develop a powerful action plan that will help fulfil their aspirations and suit their lifestyle. The Open University runs such a course entitled ‘Return to Science, Engineering’ which has proved of particular interest to women
- Pupils with a visual impairment will need larger print handouts or coloured overlays if they are dyslexic. Hearing loops may be needed for hearing impaired students to engage fully in discussions or to listen to you explaining ideas. Pupils with a learning disability may need simplified language or a more careful conceptual build-up than more able pupils
- Ensure that you promote vocational routes into STEM careers highlighting how this might widen choice for young people. Some students may prefer a more practical approach to learning or might like a mixture of both academic and vocational subjects
