Manual

MindSET Manual

This manual is intended for chapters to use when implementing and running a MindSET program.

Please do not distribute this manual to K-12 students or parents.

Goals

Read about the high-level goals of the MindSET program.

The program targets students who are off-track for completing Algebra 1 by 8th grade, and hence calculus by 12th grade, or who lack the motivation or encouragement to excel in math and science. These include women, minorities, and other populations that are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Without an encouraging and stimulating math and science environment, these students will be denied access to lucrative career fields. While MindSET does not specifically target students who are already doing well in math and science, these students are not excluded from the program.

MindSET aims to address its goals using a three-pronged approach:

  1. Student Education
  2. Teacher Training
  3. Parent Workshops

Additionally, the K-12 programs will be assessed based on standardized metrics (see the data collection section) to determine their effectiveness. Therefore, chapters are also responsible for collecting and tracking this benchmark data.

Overview

Important Roles

The success of the program depends on various parties whose roles are described here.

  • NMC - National Management Committee
  • RMC - Regional Management Committee
  • CIT - Chapter Implementation Team
    • Chapter members
    • MindSET Advisor (may be a chapter advisor or an alumnus)
  • School liaison

Steps

For a simple 10-step startup guide, click here (PDF).

See also the Chapter Startup Flowchart for a visualization of the steps.

↓ Click for details ↓ Steps Roles
Recruitment
  • Recruit chapters and Advisors to start programs.

RMC, NMC,
District Directors

Identification and Planning
  1. Form the CIT.
  2. Review MindSET materials.
  3. Partner with school district. (Advisor important here.)
  4. Determine participating schools.

CIT/Advisor, Schools/Liaison

Data collection

Send to the NMC every semester

  • Benchmark data
  • End-of-semester report

Available on the documents page.

CIT

MindSET Grant
  1. Iterate drafts with the RMC.
  2. Send the final version to the NMC.

CIT, RMC, NMC

Student Activity Modules
  1. Pick locations, dates, times.
  2. Choose/modify/create modules.
  3. Advertise sessions; register students.
  4. Run sessions and collect feedback.
  5. NEW Submit the activity session report online.
  • Ensure continuity
    • ensure continued student leadership (Advisor)
    • possibly multiple MindSET Chairs
    • additional funding (administrators, local companies, district)

CIT/Advisor

Teacher Training
  1. Gauge teacher interest; determine possible dates.
  2. Contact NMC requesting facilitators for possible dates.
  3. Finalize date; plan location, food, etc.
  4. Sign up teachers well in advance to ensure participation. (Otherwise cancel event.)
  5. Run event and collect feedback.

CIT, NMC

Parent Workshops
  1. Look through Workshop materials.
  2. Advertise to parents.
  3. Run by an Advisor or an Alumnus.

CIT/Advisor

Other useful pages

Contact

Management Hierarchy

Chapters: Please contact your local RMC before contacting the NMC.