Cultivating a Budding Engineer: A Marginalized Female High Schooler’s Journey Towards an Engineering Career (Fundamental)

Cristina Diordieva; Adeel Khalid; Sohini Gupta; Ibrahim H. Yeter

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: June 26, 2024
Conference Session: Duff's Dynamic Duo: Harnessing the Power of Teamwork for STEM Excellence!
Tagged Division: Pre-College Engineering Education Division (PCEE)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 12
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--47095
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/47095
Download Count: 67

Paper Authors

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Cristina Diordieva Nanyang Technological University orcid.org/0000-0002-7570-4454

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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 qualitative research methodologies.

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Adeel Khalid Kennesaw State University

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Dr. Adeel Khalid is a Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Marietta, Georgia, where he also serves as the Interim Assistant Dean of Research in the College of Engineering and coordinates the Aerospace Engineering minor. With expertise in aerospace systems design and optimization, Dr. Khalid brings industry experience from Avidyne Corporation. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering and a Master's degree in Industrial and Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, along with a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. His research focuses on system-level design optimization for aerospace applications.

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Sohini Gupta Wheeler High School

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Sohini Gupta is a junior high school student at Wheeler High School, a distinguished magnet program in Marietta, GA. She is passionate about STEM, particularly engineering. Committed to pursuing a career in STEM despite challenges faced by underrepresented groups, Sohini actively seeks opportunities to engage in hands-on projects and STEM-related activities. She aspires to inspire her peers by being a proactive role model in the scientific community.

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Ibrahim H. Yeter Nanyang Technological University orcid.org/0000-0002-0175-2306

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Ibrahim H. Yeter, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education (NIE) at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. He is an affiliated faculty member of the NTU Centre for Research and Development in Learning (CRADLE) and the NTU Institute for Science and Technology for Humanity (NISTH). He serves as the Director of the World MOON Project and holds editorial roles as Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Education and Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning. He is also the upcoming Program Chair-Elect of the PCEE Division at ASEE. His current research interests include STEM+C education, specifically artificial intelligence literacy, computational thinking, and engineering.

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Abstract

In this auto-ethnographic case study, we explore the life experience of a marginalized high school girl, Mira (pseudonym), who is a first-generation American born to parents from an undeveloped nation and a marginalized group with great desire and excitement for pursuing a career in engineering. Her personal background, which we address in this study, reveals a complex of traditions, challenges, and aspirations. Such factors depict the nuanced interaction between culture, pursuing education, and an engineering-targeted career in an evolving country such as the US. The primary goals of this study are to identify the motivators that drive her interest in engineering, investigate the impact of her familial background, and assess the impact of her involvement in extracurricular activities, specifically her involvement through the summer research experience at a four-year college in the southeast region of the US. This study is centered on a single case study, which is herself. In line with this study, the guiding research questions are: (1) What fundamental factors drive Mira’s interest in engineering? (2) What challenges does Mira face, and how do they affect her personal and professional development? And (3) how do diversity and representation affect Mira’s experiences and career paths in STEM fields? This study employed an auto-ethnographic approach. The purpose of autoethnography is to challenge the subject-object distinction by putting the researcher's perspective on the phenomenon being researched. The auto-ethnographic framework also allows for analysis of the varied interactions between factors that have influenced her interest in engineering. Additionally, a qualitative technique with an auto-ethnographic framework allows the researcher to look deeply into the participant's experiences, motives, and reflections. Auto-ethnography is a suitable approach to self-reflect, bringing valuable personal views into her experience. In support of this approach, she relates her experience actively engaging in hands-on experiments, problem-solving, and collaborative projects. These experiences contributed significantly to her practical knowledge and enthusiasm for engineering. The findings of this study reveal the complex chain of factors affecting her interest in engineering and provide valuable views to educational institutions, policymakers, and parents, assisting in developing successful methods to inspire and encourage the future generation of engineering experts. In conclusion, this study shows the future generation in which varied abilities are recognized, encouraged, and honored, guaranteeing that the ambitions of numerous young girls, especially from marginalized groups, find a place in the creative and constantly evolving field of STEM, especially engineering.

Citation
Format

Diordieva, C., & Khalid, A., & Gupta, S., & Yeter, I. H. (2024, June), Cultivating a Budding Engineer: A Marginalized Female High Schooler’s Journey Towards an Engineering Career (Fundamental) Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--47095

TY - CPAPER
AB - In this auto-ethnographic case study, we explore the life experience of a marginalized high school girl, Mira (pseudonym), who is a first-generation American born to parents from an undeveloped nation and a marginalized group with great desire and excitement for pursuing a career in engineering. Her personal background, which we address in this study, reveals a complex of traditions, challenges, and aspirations. Such factors depict the nuanced interaction between culture, pursuing education, and an engineering-targeted career in an evolving country such as the US. The primary goals of this study are to identify the motivators that drive her interest in engineering, investigate the impact of her familial background, and assess the impact of her involvement in extracurricular activities, specifically her involvement through the summer research experience at a four-year college in the southeast region of the US. This study is centered on a single case study, which is herself. In line with this study, the guiding research questions are: (1) What fundamental factors drive Mira’s interest in engineering? (2) What challenges does Mira face, and how do they affect her personal and professional development? And (3) how do diversity and representation affect Mira’s experiences and career paths in STEM fields? This study employed an auto-ethnographic approach. The purpose of autoethnography is to challenge the subject-object distinction by putting the researcher&#39;s perspective on the phenomenon being researched. The auto-ethnographic framework also allows for analysis of the varied interactions between factors that have influenced her interest in engineering. Additionally, a qualitative technique with an auto-ethnographic framework allows the researcher to look deeply into the participant&#39;s experiences, motives, and reflections. Auto-ethnography is a suitable approach to self-reflect, bringing valuable personal views into her experience. In support of this approach, she relates her experience actively engaging in hands-on experiments, problem-solving, and collaborative projects. These experiences contributed significantly to her practical knowledge and enthusiasm for engineering. The findings of this study reveal the complex chain of factors affecting her interest in engineering and provide valuable views to educational institutions, policymakers, and parents, assisting in developing successful methods to inspire and encourage the future generation of engineering experts. In conclusion, this study shows the future generation in which varied abilities are recognized, encouraged, and honored, guaranteeing that the ambitions of numerous young girls, especially from marginalized groups, find a place in the creative and constantly evolving field of STEM, especially engineering.
AU - Cristina Diordieva
AU - Adeel Khalid
AU - Sohini Gupta
AU - Ibrahim H. Yeter
CY - Portland, Oregon
DA - 2024/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Cultivating a Budding Engineer: A Marginalized Female High Schooler’s Journey Towards an Engineering Career (Fundamental)
UR - https://peer.asee.org/47095
DO - 10.18260/1-2--47095
ER -