Paper ID #37405Board 150: AFRL Career STREAM Implementation at NMT (Work in Progress)Destiny J. Crawford, New Mexico Tech Mechanical Engineering Department Destiny Crawford is a current graduate student at New Mexico Tech studying Chemical Engineering for a Master’s of Engineering degree. She was a pathways mentor during the Summer 2022 AFRL Career STREAM apprenticeship program in the Mechanical Engineering Department.Jett C. Emms, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Jett Emms is a current Graduate student at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro New Mexico working towards a PhD in
Paper ID #38432Board 148: A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing K-12 Students’Interest in STEM Career (Fundamentals)Tristan Robert Straight, Wartburg CollegeJennah Meyer, Wartburg CollegeDr. Ibukun Samuel Osunbunmi, Utah State University - Engineering Education Ibukun Samuel Osunbunmi is an Assistant Research Professor, and Assessment and Instructional Special- ist at Pennsylvania State University. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Engineering Education from Utah State University. Also, he has BSc and MSc degrees in mechanical engineering. His research interests include student engagement, design thinking, learning environment
Policy at the University of Southern Cali- fornia (USC). Her research domains are organization behavior and diversity management with particular interests in diversity investment outcomes and the impact of executive level leadership diversity. Her re- search is multidisciplinary and applies methods and fields in public policy, management, political science, and sociology. Upon completion of her Bachelors of Arts degree in International Development Studies at UCLA, she began a successful career in banking and finance at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch. She has completed various post baccalaureate certifications through UCLA Anderson and the Harvard Business School; most recently, she completed her MPA at California
Paper ID #43697Cultivating a Budding Engineer: A Marginalized Female High Schooler’sJourney Towards an Engineering Career (Fundamental)Dr. Cristina Diordieva, Nanyang Technological University Cristina Diordieva is the Project Coordinator for the World MOON Project. Previously, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Imperial College London (LKCMedicine) and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Cristina is a co-author of a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Switzerland. Her research focuses on inclusivity in STEM, educational technology, massive open online courses (MOOCs), and
perceptions are what will eventuallyinform a student’s decision on where to enroll, making sure that the students have as muchinformation as possible is paramount so that they can make an informed decision of theenvironment that will best suit them. Whether students were able to set foot on campus prior toenrolling or not and the accompanying pre-college experiences inform the degree to whichstudents feel like they belong on campus, setting the starting point for their collegiate career. Thepurpose of this qualitative investigation is to compare the anticipatory socialization experiencesof eight students and understand how the experiences differed between those who were able tomake it to campus prior to enrolling and those who were not, to better
Research (EER).Dr. Medha Dalal, Arizona State University Medha Dalal’s career as an engineering education researcher focuses on addressing complex engineering education challenges by building capacity for stakeholders at the grassroots, while also informing policy. She is an assistant research professor and associate director of scholarly initiatives at the learning and teaching hub in the Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. She has a Ph.D. in Engineering Education, a master’s in computer science, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Her research at the cross-roads of engineering, education, and technology seeks to transform and democratize engineering education by exploring ways of
, and Math (STEM) careers are vital to the success of anadvanced economy [1]. People in STEM jobs represent roughly 1 in 18 workers in the UnitedStates [2]. In addition, workers in STEM earn on average 26% more than those who are notemployed in STEM fields [2]. Despite the large benefits of a STEM career, growth of STEMemployment has plateaued, and many individuals leave those fields after joining [3]. In addition,there is a significant gap between men and women working in STEM-related fields, with menoutpacing women. One potential factor in this gap can be attributed to self-efficacy.A student’s self-efficacy refers to a “Judgement about one’s ability to organize and execute thecourses of action necessary to attain a specific goal” [4, p. 1
assuming that allstudents of color are underprepared or ”disadvantaged”. The risk lies in the possibility that thisterminology will be coupled with racial minorities long after corrective and financial actions havebeen taken and leaving these groups vulnerable to a continuous questioning of their qualificationsas they pursue their professional careers [7]. Thus, we are mindful of the use of our language andgeneralizations of populations in this study and highlight the critical challenge and importance ofcontext in understanding marginalized identity and the influence on student college choice andacademic pursuits.For students of low economic status, which can sometimes intersect with minority status, a factorto consider for the pursuit of higher
Education and Human Resources Directorate. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024 Empowerment in STEM Day: Introducing High School Girls to Careers at National Laboratories (Work in Progress)Baishakhi Bosea, Lydia Rachbauera, Elina D. Riosa, Faith M. Dukesaa Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA.AbstractIn the US, women are still vastly underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering,and mathematics) careers, and various studies have shown that girls’ interest in STEM careerswane as high school progresses. With this challenge in mind, Empowerment in STEM Day wasorganized by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), hosting 47 high school studentsfrom 6
Paper ID #41519The Roles of Curriculum Designers and After School STEM Teachers asEnvironmental Features for High School Students’ STEM Career Access (Fundamental)Allison Antink-Meyer, Illinois State University Allison Antink-Meyer is a pre-college science and engineering educator at Illinois State University.Jeritt Williams, Illinois State University Jeritt Williams is an assistant professor of Engineering Technology at Illinois State University, where he teaches applied industrial automation and robotics.Dr. Matthew Aldeman, Illinois State University Matthew Aldeman is an Associate Professor of Technology at Illinois
Engineering (with a minor in Biotechnology) and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engi- neering from North Carolina State University under the direct ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2023 ENGage LSU 2.0: Transitioning a Field Trip Experience to a Virtual Format and its Impact on Middle School Students (Evaluation)Abstract ENGage LSU is a yearly event designed to expose middle school students to differentfields and research areas of engineering to spark an interest in possible future careers. Thissingle-day field trip experience invited students to tour several labs and facilities in the Collegeof Engineering and to participate in hands-on activities conducted
ManagerHassan Bazzi ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2023 Promoting STEM Education through the Preparation of Multicultural National Robotics Teams in Qatar (Evaluation)AbstractIn recent years, university outreach programs have increased as an effective method of impartinga comprehensive perspective into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)careers and disciplines to school students. Different models of STEM education exist and theimplementation of educational robotics to pre-college students has been deemed impactful ininfluencing the students’ interest in STEM fields. This is due to the accessibility of educationalrobotics as well providing an engaging, hands-on method of
preparing students for the jobs needed in the twenty-first century [1]. Accordingto one study, students with positive experiences in primary education STEM subjects are morelikely to pursue STEM at a different level [2]. In addition, females have a much lowerrepresentation than males do across typical STEM subjects. Learning STEM subjects is apathway to good jobs, and those jobs are important to the American economy [4].Achievement gaps in STEM among gender groups and the underrepresentation of females inthese fields should be addressed if the United States is to meet its educational goals [3]. Over thepast thirty years, women have made substantial educational gains in male-dominated STEMfields and careers. However, a gender imbalance still remains
barriers to STEMeducation opportunities are produced through intersecting axes of oppression, such as due togender, race, disability, and socioeconomic status, and can be tied to experiences ofdiscrimination and prejudice [4], [5], [6].STEM outreach programs specifically designed for identified underserved youth often aim toaddress underrepresentation within STEM, particularly within post-secondary programs orSTEM careers. We note that the framing of underrepresentation in STEM may suggest a merelack of knowledge about or opportunity to engage in STEM as the primary barrier to equity inSTEM. This framing does not acknowledge the structural exclusion inherent in STEM; manymarginalized individuals may already have opportunities to engage in STEM
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and in the Department of Education at Tufts University. He is also co-Director of the Institute for Research on Learning and Instruction (IRLI). He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from UC San Diego and his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, all in chemical engineering. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024 Hands-on High School Education Alumni’s Perception of Preparation for an Engineering Career (Work in Progress)Engineering university students come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds whichinfluence their engagement with engineering. While these diverse backgrounds have been thefocus of engineering education research, such as
engagement in STEM education and careers.Amy Hurst, New York University ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2023The Impact of Participating in an Afterschool Professional Training Program on Youth Employees (RTP)1. IntroductionAfterschool STEM training programs for youth provide valuable opportunities to learn hands-on,real-world technical and social skills and develop STEM career interests [2,21]. However, manyyouths, especially in urban contexts, face financial pressures and may instead take afterschooljobs in non-technical fields such as food service or retail [5,30]. Paid out-of-schooltime (OST)professional training programs that can offer youth learning experiences while earning an
the conclusion that, by the end of the program, campers could better articulate thedifferences between each of the three fields, the anticipated career trajectories for each degreepath, and increased students’ interest in specific computing majors.TheorySince the mid-1960s, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) [1] and the Institute ofElectrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) [2] have worked to identify trends in computing anddisseminate curriculum guidelines to the computing community. CC2020, the most recent jointpublication of the two [3] identified six distinct computing disciplines: (1) computer science; (2)computer engineering; (3) information systems; (4) software engineering; (5) informationtechnology; and (6) cybersecurity
Paper ID #38513Challenging the Notion of Role Models in Engineering Outreach Programsfor Youth (Fundamental)Dr. Kelli Paul, Indiana University-Bloomington Dr. Kelli Paul is an Assistant Research Scientist at the Center for Research on Learning and Technology at Indiana University where her research focuses on the development of STEM interests, identity, and career aspirations in children and adolescents.Dr. Karen Miel, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Karen Miel’s research focuses on PK-16 students’ reasoning and decision-making in collaborative engi- neering design and the ways educators facilitate
a quarter of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs. Inthe last twenty years, many educators and researchers have worked to develop strategies andprograms to increase the participation of women in STEM careers. Research shows that strategicintervention at the middle school-level can have great impacts on female students’ perspectivesof careers in STEM fields. At Rowan University, the Society of Women Engineers: Engineers inTraining (SWEET) Program, a program led by engineering faculty and the students of theuniversity’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), was established to help redefinethe role of women in STEM fields. Through a series of workshops, the SWEET Programexposed middle school-aged girls to
photovoltaic, thermophotovoltaic, and nonlinear systems using the principles of nanophotonics. KeyDr. David R. Ely, Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis Dr. David R. Ely is the Engineering Program Chair at Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette since 2013. He enjoys teaching engineering students at Ivy Tech and advising them on the different engineering career paths that best match their interests and skillHayley Joy Grisez ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024 Evaluation of High School Semiconductor and Microelectronics Summer Program (Evaluation)AbstractThis paper presents an overall evaluation of the READI High School Semiconductor SummerProgram, which
experiences outside of classrooms have an increasedinterest in STEM and a desire to pursue STEM careers [2]. Middle school years are prime years of career awareness, especially when students seeadults in STEM careers; it resonates with them and piques their interest [3,4]. Moreover, whenstudents engage in authentic hands-on activities and can see applications of STEM in their lives,it further motivates them to pursue STEM careers [3]. Therefore, keeping the research in mind,Introduction to Research and Innovative Design in Engineering (iRIDE) was initiated in thespring of 2019 for middle school students as an after-school extracurricular club followed by asummer academy to stimulate their interest in engineering. Using an asset-based
. Geospatial skills represent an excellent opportunity for high school students to connect totheir local place and address local issues from a multidisciplinary lens1. Past camps andcurriculum show that introducing students to these skills increases students understanding ofclimate change, spatial and relational thinking2-4. We also aim to address geospatial careers sothat students can see the variety of careers that utilize geospatial skills across the state and thenation, particularly those connected to the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research and NSFEPSCoR as the funding agencies. We will highlight careers such as geospatial intelligence,geospatial engineering, forestry, and health geography.Theoretical and Curriculum Design Frameworks
intersection of engineering education, faculty development, and complex systems design. Alexandra completed her graduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech (PhD) and Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia (UVa). ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024 Preliminary Design of an Engineering Case Study for Elementary Students (Work in Progress)AbstractThe dominant stories about engineering in the media illustrate a field with a chronic shortage ofengineers and where “doing engineering” is about math, science, and building. Recent literaturereviews examining engineering practice and engineering careers provide a broader picture ofwhat engineers do
living in rural America. Public schools in rural settings serve one-thirdof all students in the United States [1], [2]. Often little attention is given toprepare these youth for careers in STEM education and a lack in programs toimprove rural science education remains [3]. Furthermore, multiple barriers existfor rural students who aspire to pursue a STEM career. The TRAILS 2.0 programis designed to help rural students overcome these challenges based on the situatedlearning theory to blend both physical and social elements of real-world learningwithin a community of practice to foster authentic learning [4], [5], [6], [7].TRAILS 2.0 adds a focus on Place-based education (PBE) [8] that utilizes aframework for rural teachers to leverage local and
].While the workforce continues to expand, teenagers still show disinterest in entering themicroelectronics industry [6]. According to Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), students’awareness and motivation of working in a certain field will only increase if multiple exposureopportunities are provided [7]. Without an increase in the upcoming generation’s motivation topursue careers in the microelectronics workforce, the plan to continue expanding ourinvolvement in this industry will suffer.We propose that embedding engaging microelectronics content into existing middle and highschool curriculum will increase student awareness of and interest in the field. This work inprogress will evaluate 11 units that are implemented during the 2023 – 24
. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2024Understanding the Influence of a Week-Long Electrical and ComputerEngineering Summer Camp on Middle School Students’ Interests in STEM(RTP)AbstractStudent interest in engineering at the K-12 level has been shown to predict whether students ofall backgrounds pursue engineering as a college major and career [1],[2]. Middle school is acritical time when student interest, identity, and career choices begin to solidify. Scientists havedeveloped a framework based on social cognitive theory for understanding three factors that arecritical in career pathway development in late adolescence and early adulthood, namely, "(1)Formation and elaboration of career-relevant interests, (2) Selection of academic and
report results from pre/post surveys to understand the impact of our camp on students’awareness of what engineers do in engineering careers and their interest in engineering as acareer as well as their awareness of the role of HCD in engineering. Findings indicated thatstudents’ awareness of what engineers do, their interest in engineering, and their awareness ofthe role of HCD in engineering all improved. This can lead students to make a more informeddecision regarding engineering as a potential career path. Future work will more deeply explorethe camp’s outcomes, especially regarding students’ development of the collaborative (i.e.,teamwork) mindset.IntroductionWithin the realm of STEM-related topics, human-centered design (HCD) is relatively
]. Studies show thatwhile parents have significant influence on students’ interest in STEM, both parents and friendshave significant influence on students’ career choice intention [6]. Role models can be apowerful influence on the way students view themselves and how they conduct their lives [5].In this study, male and female students’ interest in STEM was examined and its connection tothe presence of role models. Data was collected from summer outreach camps from 2017 to2022, although, because of COVID-19, years 2020 and 2021 are not included. These camps weredesigned to increase interest in STEM. Data was analyzed to evaluate the influence role modelscan have on students’ interest in STEM.Program DescriptionDuring the summers of 2017 to 2022
a prosthetic limb from recovered materials ordesigning an electronic dance game pad. In one camp session, students primarily found out about the camp by being nominated bycounselors at their schools, with an intentional focus on recruiting students who might nototherwise be exposed to engineering. In the other camp session, parents signed up campers afterhearing about the camp via information sent through the schools. All students who applied wereaccepted to the camps. Identical pre- and post-camp surveys asked campers questions about theirknowledge of what engineers do, their interest in math and science, and what factors areimportant to them when choosing a career. Survey analysis showed that there were statisticallysignificant