Getting Started with Sustainable Development
Here are just a few links to help you explore Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with your students.
Sustainable Development Goals
The prime online resource for Sustainable Development Goals from the United Nations. Includes news, events, student resources, and in-depth information on each of the goals.
SDGs Resources for Educators
The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has created or identified numerous other resources to help educators introduce and explore sustainable development with their students.
The World's Largest Lesson
This is an excellent starting point for resources and activities on the SDGs. It features fun activities and materials for all educators and settings – from schools, clubs and camps to learning at home.
170 Daily Actions
This document includes 10 action ideas for each of the SDGs. Some are simple actions for individuals and others are more abstract - good for starting discussions
SDG Playbook
Created by the Nigerian Youth SDGS Network, this student-friendly booklet provides over 200 community-level activites to implement SDGs. An excellent resource to trigger brainstorming and spark discussions.
And to help you think about engineering and sustainable development:
Engineering For Sustainable Development
A UNESCO report that serves as an excellent reference. “By presenting case studies and approaches, as well as possible solutions, the report reveals why engineering is crucial for sustainable development and why the role of engineers is vital in addressing basic human needs such as alleviating poverty, supplying clean water and energy, responding to natural hazards, constructing resilient infrastructure, and bridging the development divide, among many other actions, leaving no one behind.”
Increasing Student Success
When using the EngineerGirl writing competition as a class or group project, there are a number of simple things you can do to improve the experience and the quality of student submissions.
Review the contest rules to make sure everyone understands the rules.
You can also download the scorecard for this year's contest, which can help clarify what the judges wil be looking for in winning entries.
Make sure parents/guardians are informed about the contest.
A parent or guardian must approve each child’s participation in the contest and fill out the submission form. They will be required to license their child’s essay for publication if it is selected as a winner. Guide families with unreliable or slow internet access at home to the PDF entry form.
Discuss engineering careers and the engineering design process.
Students with little or no experience with engineering often do not realize the wide variety of engineering careers that exist. Reviewing career fields provides an opportunity to talk about the role of engineering in our lives. Discussing the engineering design process also helps students recognize that engineering is something that anyone can do.
Discuss plagiarism and the importance of not copying a reference word-for-word.
We check submissions and have disqualified students for copying the work of others.
Review some past winning submissions.
Not all contests involve the same type of writing and sometimes different age groups have been given different challenges. The 2016 contest asked students to write essays on the social responsibility of engineers. Other past contests focused on infrastructure and wildlife protection, although those contest required a format other than an essay for submission.
Assure students that anyone in grades 3-12 can participate.
We welcome entries from all students regardless of gender, race, or ethnic/social background. It is important, however, for students to understand the reason for EngineerGirl’s focus on girls and diversity so that they can understand the audience for their essay and so that they do not feel marginalized in the competition. Engineers know that getting diverse perspectives on a problem leads to better designs and better solutions. That’s why the EngineerGirl site was created – to get more girls and underrepresented minorities interested in future engineering careers. These groups currently make up only a small percentage of professional engineers.
Consider supporting students with fewer resources by pairing them with a mentor.
Mentors can review the guidelines and discuss ideas, read drafts, and help students find appropriate resources. Mentors can also be a student’s champion and offer encouragement to help her persevere through the process. You may be able to draw on friends, colleagues, parent groups, or older students to find mentors.
Consider ways that students can support one another.
While each submission needs to be the work of an individual, students interested in a similar subject or development goal can benefit from working together to gather research, share discoveries, and discuss their experiences. Group members can also review each other’s drafts and provide feedback. Students – particularly those in lower grades – may need guidance on working in this type of group.
Remind students to express appreciation for those who have supported them.
This includes not only those they have interviewed for information, but also parents and mentors. Offer guidance on writing a meaningful thank you note, which is a useful life skill.
Debrief students after the contest submissions have been made.
Students who participate in the contest will benefit from a discussion that includes self-reflection on their work, what they learned, what they are proud of, and what they could improve upon.
Additional Resources:
Here are some additional resources on things to consider when presenting STEM competitions to students in general, and girls in particular.
A Grand Challenge: Reimagining Competitions for the Broader Benefit
Competitions can ignite passions and turn kids on to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but the question remains whether competitions are the best way to get youth involved in STEM activities.
Top 10 Ways to Increase Girls Participation in Computing Competitions
The relatively simple steps listed below can go a long way toward increasing girls’ participation in computing competitions. Taking these steps also improves these competitions for all students.