Seattle, Washington
June 14, 2015
June 14, 2015
June 17, 2015
978-0-692-50180-1
2153-5965
Evaluation: Exploring the Impact of Summer Programs on K-12 Youth.
K-12 & Pre-College Engineering
Diversity
20
26.911.1 - 26.911.20
10.18260/p.24248
https://peer.asee.org/24248
581
Emma Koller is majoring in Electrical Engineering as an undergraduate student at the University of St. Thomas.
Lauren Van Beek is an undergraduate studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of St. Thomas.
AnnMarie Thomas, Ph.D., is a professor in the School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas where she directs the UST Center for Engineering Education. Her research group, the Playful Learning Lab, focuses on engineering and design education for learners of all ages.
Implementing and Evaluating An E-Textile Curriculum In an Engineering Summer Program for Girls (Evaluation)While many recent reforms call for improving K-12 engineering education there is little researchon the impact of engineering programs on students. There is even less research on engaging girlsin engineering in informal learning environments. To address this need, we conducted a study onthe implementation of a new curriculum, using e-textiles, in a summer engineering and STEMprogram for girls. The summer program for girls is a five-day, cost free camp to introduce girlsexciting applications of science, technology, and engineering. The goal is to help girls learnabout STEM subjects and introduce them to the careers involving STEM. Girls completing 6thgrade or 9th grade can attend the program. The program has been offered for 15 years andreached over 3000 girls.The new curriculum, using e-textiles implemented in the summer 2014 program. The evaluationof the curriculum was done through observations of the e-textile sessions, feedback from theparticipants, and information gathered in participant's engineering notebooks. While the overallfeedback on the e-textile projects was positive, the girls exhibited some displeasure at havingsewing be part of the project. We present the results of this evaluation, as well as a discussion ofthe lessons learned through the design, implementation, and assessment process of this program.
Koller, E., & Van Beek, L. M., & Besser, D., & Guzey, S. S., & Thomas, A. (2015, June), Implementing and Evaluating An E-Textile Curriculum In an Engineering Summer Program for Girls (Evaluation) Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.24248
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