Conference Session

Attracting Young MINDS in Engineering - Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lynn Albers, North Carolina State University; Stevie Clark, North Carolina State University; Elizabeth Parry, North Carolina State University; Ryan Smith, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

Cooperation on Science Fair Projects on Elementary School StudentsAbstractThe purpose of this paper is to show that outside the classroom, active learning throughscience fair projects with assistance from RAMP-UP Fellows can positively impactfourth graders. A comparison of the students’ third grade End-of-Grade (EOG) mathscores to their fourth grade EOG math scores, after they have worked with RAMP-UPFellows on science fair projects, is presented to assess the impact. RAMP-UP assistedfourth graders in 2007 had a 2.96% and an 11.43% improvement in their developmentscale score and achievement level respectively as compared to 1.99% and 3.59%improvement by their peers. The 2008 and 2009 assisted science fair students did notperform as well as

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering - Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carol Gattis, University of Arkansas; Todd Shields, University of Arkansas; Bryan Hill, University of Arkansas; Shannon Davis, University of Arkansas

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

persisting in engineering disciplines. Theprogram has already demonstrated significant increases in the number ofunderrepresented students entering and persisting in engineering. The ECAP studentsshow higher GPAs, greater satisfaction with engineering and the College, have astronger commitment to the university and maintain a more positive overall outlookregarding their college experiences than other students.The following paper describes the program and findings of an evaluation showing thatECAP students are more successful than their non-ECAP peers and compared toprevious cohorts of students (underrepresented students and all students). Quantitativestudies showed statistically significant results. The ECAP program includes sixcomponents: 1) an in

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering - Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Richard Harris, Northeastern University; Carrie Boykin, Northeastern University; Bala Maheswaran, Northeastern University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

engineering which need to be taken intoconsideration. Some scholars and educators have predicted that the barriers that discourageunder-represented minorities from achieving success in science and engineering, pointed to suchfactors as:• inadequate academic preparation• substandard educational resources• mismatched social and academic expectations• lack of encouragement• psychological intimidation• unstable familial and financial circumstances• inadequate peer support• lack of role modeling/mentoring• low expectations by science and engineering faculty• poor/uninspired instruction and advising by science/engineering faculty• racism(Reichert & Absher, 1997)1In recognizing the aforementioned social and cognitive factors which may negatively

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering - Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tanya Ennis, University of Colorado, Boulder; Jana Milford, University of Colorado, Boulder; Beth Myers, University of Colorado, Boulder; Jacquelyn Sullivan, University of Colorado, Boulder; Diane Sieber, University of Colorado, Boulder; Daniel Knight, University of Colorado, Boulder; Ann Scarritt, University of Colorado, Boulder

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

degree to be five instead of four years (or 4.5 which is the actual average time to degreein our college).Various elements of the Engineering GoldShirt Program are designed to build community, igniteexcitement about engineering, and prepare students to succeed in engineering. GoldShirt studentsparticipate in a two-week Summer Bridge program to orient them to the challenges of college,building community among the students, and developing leadership skills through a wide rangeof activities. During their initial GoldShirt year, students learn in small, cohort-based classes orco-seminars in mathematics, introductory physics, writing and critical thinking. GoldShirtstudents are placed into appropriate mathematics classes based on an in-depth

Conference Session

Attracting Young MINDS in Engineering - Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ruba Alkhasawneh, Virginia Commonwealth University; Rosalyn Hobson, Virginia Commonwealth University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

-represented minority freshmen in science, engineering, and mathematicsdisciplines. The core component of the academic program was mathematics preparation,achieved by offering a pre-calculus course. In addition, courses in science (chemistry) and studyskills were offered. This paper will address the importance of offering mathematics preparationas a part of pre-college programs whose goals are to develop under-represented minoritystudents’ performance and reduce the gap between them and their peers from differentraces/ethnicities. In addition, it will spot light the best practices which have been identified.IntroductionCalculus is a core subject for most of science and engineering fields and it affects student’sretention in science, technology

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering - Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mary Anderson-Rowland, Arizona State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

conference room in order to accommodate all ofthe students’ schedules. This means that each meeting is attended by 10 – 30 students. Themeetings usually open with an ice breaker question which each student asked to answer alongwith their name, major, and graduation date. This exercise is very important to networking andencouragement. Students report that they “liked the introduction we each had to give andlistening to good things that happened to my peers.” A common report is “It helped me to knowthat I am not the only student having trouble in my class.” Sometimes study groups are formedafter students in the meeting realize that they are in the same class.The first meeting of each semester is dedicated to talking about the Guaranteed 4.0 Plan.14 In

Conference Session

Attracting Young MINDS in Engineering - Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nancy Warter-Perez, California State University, Los Angeles; Jianyu Dong, California State University, Los Angeles; Eun-Young Kang, California State University, Los Angeles; Huiping Guo, California State University, Los Angeles; Mauricio Castillo, California State University, Los Angeles; Alexander Abramyan, California State University, Los Angeles; Keith Moo-Young, California State University, LA

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

encouragegraduate fellows to pursue a PhD, the program supports fellows to attend both professionalconferences and the NSF GK-12 National Conference to network with PhD students and doctoralresearch faculty. To date, fellows have published three papers6, 7, 8, presented five presentationsat national conferences, and attended twenty conferences. Fellows are also encouraged to formGRE study groups. In addition, seminars on graduate school, how to present scientific Page 15.1103.4presentations, and grant writing are held.Fostering Role ModelsThe IMPACT LA Program places graduate fellows, who are conducting masters-level researchin STEM disciplines, into middle

Conference Session

New Research & Trends for Minorities in Engineering

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Maria M. Larrondo Petrie, Florida Atlantic University; Ivan Esparragoza, Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

University builds proficiency in logic, critical thinkingand writing skills, dividing students into two sessions: a 12 day camp for 11th and 12th graders23,and a 9 day camp for 9th and 10th graders24, which focus on critical thinking skills in academicactivities: college level writing, research skills, logical thinking/argumentation, study skills, time Page 15.874.11management, course/major selection, note taking, critical reading, and presentations. EducationalUnlimited21 and Sally Ride Science Camps25 sponsor a camp for girls for girls entering 6th to 9thgrades, are overnight 10-day camps held on college campuses designed to interest girls

Conference Session

Developing Young MINDS in Engineering - Part II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cynthia Finelli, University of Michigan; Lorelle Meadows, University of Michigan; David Lorch, University of Michigan; Cinda-Sue Davis, University of Michigan; Guy Meadows, University of Michigan

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering

theM-STEM Academy include: ≠ Careful identification and selection of students, ≠ A pre-freshman, six-week, intensive, summer transition program, ≠ A “Living Community” program during the freshman year through which M-STEM students live in the same residence hall, ≠ Required advising and academic coaching that focuses on academic planning and success strategies as well as on dealing with personal challenges, ≠ Peer study groups, tutoring, and supplemental instruction, ≠ Mentoring and other professional development opportunities, ≠ Monthly “family meetings” where student cohorts and M-STEM staff discuss academic and personal opportunities, challenges, and strategies, ≠ Research opportunities during the

Conference Session

Attracting Young MINDS in Engineering - Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Juan Castilleja, The Boeing Company; Rachel Jackson, Rice University; Natalia Salies, Rice University; Brent Houchens, Rice University

Tagged Divisions

Minorities in Engineering