Inspiring Minds

Teachers participating in UAB's Girls Engaged in Math and Science initiative have created more than 250 interactive lesson plans—including an edible guide to cell anatomy and a combined scrapbook and podcast series on environmental issues.

Standardized test results show that girls can perform just as well as boys in math and science subjects. So why do boys still dominate in the classroom and the job market? Research indicates the problem is a matter of interest and confidence—particularly among minority girls. That’s why the School of Education is helping teachers find new ways to reach their students with its Girls Engaged in Mathematics and Science (GEMS) initiative. Through GEMS, the first program of its kind in the state, UAB education faculty are training teachers to incorporate interactive games, videos, podcasts, and other technologies into their math and science classes. The best field-tested lesson plans are shared with the world on the Alabama Learning Exchange, an online resource open to all teachers.