Conference Session

The Pipeline

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Paul Plotkowski, Grand Valley State University; Mary Ann Sheline, Grand Valley State University; Margo Dill, Grand Valley State University; Jessica Noble, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

remote controlled aircraft. While influencing longterm educational goals is a primary focus of the STEPS camps, the experiences andactivities are also designed to promote self esteem, self confidence, and demonstrate thebenefits of teamwork and collaboration. Based upon this positive message, Grand ValleyState University began offering STEPS camps in the summer of 2002, and the popularityhas ensured full capacity participation every year thereafter.Pre and post assessments measuring content knowledge, self efficacy about success inmathematics and science, and the likelihood of pursuing STEM related fields are used toevaluate the camps yearly. Results indicate that increase in content knowledge amonggirls in the 2007 program increased from 10.5

Conference Session

The Pipeline

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Cortney Martin, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Tonya Smith-Jackson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

inductive processfor extracting relationships and models and is suited to areas of inquiry that are not wellresearched. The data was coded using a commercial software package for qualitative contentanalysis, Atlas.ti (www.atlasti.com).Children expressed varying levels of self-efficacy, the self-perception of one’s ability tocomplete a given task. Although self-efficacy was not measured directly, based on Bandura’s17social cognitive theories, positive, affirming, motivated, and confident statements wereinterpreted as indicative of high self-efficacy and instances of negative, pessimistic, disengaged,anxiety-related statements were associated with low self-efficacy.The most significant gender-related findings were: (1) of equally skilled girls and

Conference Session

Focus on High School Girls in Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michelle Porche, Wellesley Center for Women; Jennifer Grossman, Wellesley Center for Women; Anne Noonan, Salem State College; Peter Wong, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

support from science teachers, while interest andaspirations for mathematics study was associated with math self-efficacy, math salience, andsupport from math teachers. Gender ideology also played a role, but in the opposite directionexpected.To shed additional light on these findings, we analyzed data from Key Informant interviewsconducted with several local and national STEM leaders. Themes from the Key Informantinterviews included attention to extracurricular activities (infrastructural issues, socioeconomicsupport, the need to support adults in their work with urban youth, specific challenges associatedwith after-school STEM opportunities) and messages to girls regarding STEM involvement(gender-specific messages that can discourage or

Conference Session

The Impact of Engineering Disciplines

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Venetia Dover, Howard University; Dawn Williams, Howard University; Lorraine Fleming, Howard University; Viara Quinones, Howard University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

explores the differences between male and female students and primarily seeks tounderstand: Is gender or academic discipline most influential in students’ perception of theirability to cope with the challenges associated with pursuing a post baccalaureate degree?Overview of Social Cognitive Career TheoryThe theoretical framework guiding this study is Social Cognitive Career Theory. An extensionof Bandura’s general social cognitive theory6, this theory postulates that three social cognitivemechanisms are essential to career development: self efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, andgoal mechanisms7. This paper utilizes 2 major concepts of this theory: self efficacy beliefs andgoal mechanisms. Bandura asserts that self efficacy beliefs are

Conference Session

Focus on High School Girls in Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mary Brake, Eastern Michigan University; Kaninka Bhatnagar, Eastern Michigan University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

Education Statistics (2004). Trends in educational equity of girls & women: 2004, U.S.Department of Education. NCES 2005-016.7. PATT (1986). “What do girls and boys think of technology? Pupils’ attitudes towards technology”, PATTWorkshop report: March 6-11, 1986. Endhoven University of Technology, Netherlands.8. American Association of University Women (1991). “Shortchanging girls, shortchanging America: A nationwidepoll that assesses self-esteem, educational experiences, interest in math and science, and career aspirations of girlsand boys ages 9-15”, Washington DC: AAUW.9. Weiner, B., An attributional theory of achievement motivation and emotion, Psychological Review 92 (1985) (4),pp. 548–57310. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise