Frequently Asked Questions

• Why are you targeting middle school students as opposed to any other age?
  Middle school is a critical age because there is a big drop-off in interest in science and math as students enter high school, especially among minorities, girls, and students from low-income areas. When entering high school, TechREACH students show an increased interest in technology and plan to take more science, math, and technology courses.
• Why are you targeting students from low-income areas and underrepresented minorities?
  Technology experience provides opportunities. The U.S. Department of Labor says 16 of the 20 fastest-growing jobs require computer skills, and these groups are underrepresented in these fields. In areas where middle school students have limited exposure to technology, TechREACH clubs offer challenges and experiences that build confidence and motivate students to keep achieving.
• Why do you work with boys and girls separately?
  Students traditionally start to lose confidence in STEM during middle school due to new social environments, harder classes, and peer pressures. At this age, boys typically take over when the class studies STEM issues and the girls turn into helpers as opposed to active participants. Separating the girls and boys empowers the girls to take a more active role in the activities. The strategy of separate learning environments has a positive impact on boys as well as girls regarding the level of participation, confidence building, and positive social interactions.
• Are TechREACH activities tied to in-school curriculum?
  TechREACH’s goal is to extend what is possible in the school day to after school and summer programs. This extra time enables the teacher to engage students’ in hands-on learning about real-world issues. However, students’ TechREACH learning supports the work done in school with overlapping content and also gives students an increased sense of confidence in their abilities. “On days that we have TechREACH I want to go to school more.”