Engagement in Practice: Unlocking STEM as a Career Choice for Middle School Females in a Rural School District
- Conference
- Location
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Columbus, Ohio
- Publication Date
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June 24, 2017
- Start Date
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June 24, 2017
- End Date
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June 28, 2017
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Community Engagement Division
- Tagged Topic
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Diversity
- Page Count
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9
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--28241
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/28241
- Download Count
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565
Paper Authors
Nirmala Prakash Florida Atlantic University
Nirmala Prakash (Ramlakhan), Ph.D.
Professional Preparation
University of Central Florida, Bachelor of Science in Biology B.S. 2002
University of Central Florida, Masters of Science in Health Science M.S. 2005
University of Central Florida, Doctorate in Science Education Ph.D. 2012
Appointments/Professional Experience
2015-present: Associate Research Professor of Clinical Biomedical Science: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
2014-present: Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
2010-2012 Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Research: Workforce Central Florida/USDOL
2008-2010 Director or STEM and New and Emerging Industries Special Projects: Workforce Central Florida/USDOL
2007-2008 Education Special Project Manager: Workforce Central Florida/USDOL
2005-2007 Science Department Chairperson: Orange County Public Schools; Orlando Florida
2002-2007 Physics and Biology Teacher: Orange County Public Schools; Orlando Florida
Selected Publications
2013 American Society of Engineering Education. Dagley, M., Ramlakhan,N., Georgiopoulos, M., Young, C. “Establishing a Women’s Mentorship Network in a STEM Learning Community.”
Dieker, L., Grillo, K., & Ramlakhan, N. (2012). The use of virtual and simulated teaching and learning environments: Inviting gifted students into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers (STEM) through summer partnerships. Gifted Education International, 28(1), 96-106.
Ramlakhan, N., (2012). A comparative investigation of career readiness
and decidedness in first year STEM majoring students participating in a stem mentoring program imbedded in a living-learning community with focused data on female STEM students. (Doctoral dissertation). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.
Selected Papers/Presentations
Conference paper & presentation: Ramlakhan, N., American Educational Research Association. “A comparative investigation of career readiness and decidedness in first year STEM majoring students participating in a stem mentoring program imbedded in a living-learning community with focused data on female STEM students.” 2014
Conference organizer, paper & presentation: Ramlakhan, N., National Science Foundation STEPWork Conference Organizer and Presenter: “Achieving STEM Sustainability through USDOL Partnerships” 2014
Conference paper & presentation: Association of Science Teachers Conference Paper: Ramlakhan, N., “Girls Excelling in Math and Science: Using STEM Mentorship to Increase Female Retention” (pilot data) 2011
Conference paper & presentation: National Science Foundation Conference Paper: Ramlakhan, N., “Sustainability and Institutionalization of Undergraduate Research Experiences” 2011
Conference paper & presentation: National Science Teachers Association National Conference. Ramlakhan, N.,“Using Industry Partnership to Increase STEM Initiative Success” 2010
Synergistic Activities
• Member(2012-present): National Science Teachers Association, Association of Science Teacher Educators, Florida Chamber, STEMflorida, Palm Beach STEM Council; Industry Advisory Council Member 2010-2013: Digital Media, STEM for Orange County Public Schools, Career and Technical Education and Seminole College
• Collaborative Projects (2007-2013) – Orange, Lake, Sumter, Seminole and Osceola County Public Schools, Lockheed Martin, Electronic Arts, Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Prism, Orlando Science Center, University of Central Florida, Valencia, Seminole and Lake Sumter Colleges
• Coordinator of Industry Expert Review Committee: 2008 Math Sunshine State Standards
• Member of the Strategic Planning Committee (2011-2012) - Florida Center for Research in Math and Science Education
• Medical Scholars Program (2014-present) – Florida A&M University, MCAT prep curriculum developer
Collaborators (11)
Andrew Daire University of Texas; Melissa Dagley, University of Central Florida; Lisa Dieker, University of Central Florida; Michael Georgiopoulos University of Central Florida; Kelly Grillo, University of Central Florida; Bobbi Jeanpierre, University of Central Florida; Leslie Hielema, Florida Institute of Technology; Nancy Romance, Florida Atlantic University; Julie Servoss, Florida Atlantic University; Michael Smith, Florida A&M University; Cynthia Young, University of Central Florida;
Rachel Tobillo Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University
Rachel Tobillo is a 2nd year medical student at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida. She currently serves as the Health Careers Outreach Program (HCOP) Student Leader and as the Vice President of the Competency in Medical Spanish organization on campus. She is also the co-founder of a new initiative at FAU that aims to integrates the arts into medicine and patient care.
Abstract
Engagement in Practice: Unlocking STEM as a Career Choice for Middle School Females in a Rural School District
ABSTRACT: The Girls Exploring Math and Science (GEMS) partnership is committed to removing STEM educational access barriers for middle school females. The partnership is comprised of researchers from a large urban university, two private foundations, a high-tech medical simulation center, and a rural school district. GEMS serves 150 diverse and economically disadvantaged female eighth grade students annually and aims to reduce dysfunctional career thinking in STEM and unlock STEM as a career choice. The goal of GEMS is to provide students with resources and tools so they can individually understand and plan: 1) STEM career and certification options in high school, 2) the path to college and the differences between technical and professional careers in STEM, and 3) entry and exit points on a STEM career ladder over their lifetime. The intervention lasted seven months and consisted of career exploration activities within science classrooms, a STEM career conference led by female executives, and experiential activities on the college campus. Career thinking constructs were assessed pre and post via two surveys. Preliminary data showed no significant change in students’ career indecision and a significant decrease in their career certainty. These findings, specifically the decrease in career certainty, may align with the goal of GEMS to generate female interest in a previously inaccessible, unknown, and unattainable STEM career. Lessons learned include the need for more individual mentorship to elucidate abstract details about job functions and lifestyles in STEM professions and the need to educate economically disadvantaged male students as well. Sparse research into STEM career thinking and preliminary findings from this intervention call for the need to implement STEM career development programs with support and tracking throughout high school. These interventions should not only spark interest in the sciences, but also impart a sense of self efficacy, motivation, and empowerment to females.
Prakash, N., & Tobillo, R. (2017, June), Engagement in Practice: Unlocking STEM as a Career Choice for Middle School Females in a Rural School District Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--28241
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