Post on 02-Jan-2016
INCREASING ENROLLMENT OF FEMALES IN HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS ELECTIVES
Branson Lawrence, Diane Hinterlong, Purva J. Rushi
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy®
Decreasing Enrollment• Academy created for gifted STEM students in
10th – 12th grade• Incoming sophomore class composed of equal
numbers of male and female students• Female enrollment in physics electives
growing disparity
Research and Action Plans
• Quantitative Analysis - Examining Elective Enrollment Trends for 5 electives, 2003 – 2008
• Qualitative Analysis – Small Focus Groups to Examine Students’ Perceptions
• Resulting Action Steps
Female Enrollment, 2003-2008Graph of Female Enrollment in Physics Electives: Average percentage of
female enrollment in all 5 physics electives, 2003-2008.Enrollment in 4 of the 5 physics electives was found to be significantly lower
than male enrollment: Calc-Based (CB) , Electronics, Engineering = 34% female; Modern=40%. Exception: Advanced Physics = 54% female.
0
20
40
60
80
100
Advanced Modern Calc-Based Electronics Engineering
Females
Males
Differences in Enrollment, 2003-2008
Table of Enrollment Differences between Females: Percent of females, by ethnicity, enrolled in each physics elective prior to graduation, 2003-2008. Example: From 2003-08, 63% of our African-American female graduates took Advanced Physics, but only 12% of them took Calc-Based Physics.
Physics Elective African-American Females
Latinas Multiracial Females
Asian Females
Caucasian Females
Advanced Physics
63%(32/51)
46%(11/24)
62%(18/29)
50%(90/181)
53%(117/222)
Modern Physics 25%(13/51)
42%(10/24)
24%(7/29)
23%(42/181)
31%(69, 222)
Calc-Based Physics
12%(6/51)
8%(2/24)
14%(4/29)
48%(86/181)
24%(53/222)
Electronics 12%(6/51)
42%(10/24)
21%(6/29)
8%(15/181)
19%(42/222)
Engineering**Data from spring 2005-08
4%(2/51)
8%(2/24)
10%(3/29)
3%(6/181)
10%(23/222)
Grade Differences by Ethnicity, 2003-2008
Graph of C’s: Percentage of C’s (or lower) earned by all female and male students, by ethnicity, 2003-2008 * Calc-Based = Only elective where >10% in each ethnic group earned a C * Latinos= Over 20% earned C in every elective (excludes Engineering) Example: From 2003-08, 19% of our African-American students who took Advanced Physics earned a C (or lower). Physics Elective African-
AmericanLatino/a Multiracial Asian Caucasian
Advanced Physics 19%(9/48)
22%(7/32)
8%(2/25)
7%(11/155)
10%(22/222)
Modern Physics 9%(2/23)
23%(5/22)
0% 4%(4/104)
3%(5/187)
Calc-Based Physics 42%(5/12)
36%(4/11)
14%(1/7)
11%(25/224)
13%(24/192)
Electronics 17%(4/23)
25%(5/20)
31%(4/13)
4%(2/47)
9%(12/127)
*Engineering was excluded because there was fewer than 5 Cs from the 106 students.
Small Focus Groups• 14 students• Conducted by Dr. Margery Osborne (UIUC)
Why students like physics:
Male Female
BuildingProblem SolvingProjectsNot AbstractExperiential ConnectionsFunDisregard Grades
Good at itAbstractGood GradesPersonal
Initial Steps Completed
• Sound and Light elective moved to Fall semester.• 6 female alumni spoke with students.• Spring Elective Fair:
– Current female students speaking/presenting on video.
– Video of engineering projects, interviews with female students.
Initial Steps (continued)
SI Physics changes for all sophomore students: • Allowing revisions on assessments• Reordering Topics• Grouping discussion among teachers
Next Steps• SI Physics: Self-paced for more personal attention• Alumni videotape for website/potential students• Engineering competition this fall for teams of
sophomores (teams of 2 males and 2 females)• Considering workshops for younger students• Physics/engineering “career fair” in January, 2011• Grant Writer• Your ideas?
Role of Technology
• Use of 1-to-1 tablet – every student engaged in data analysis
• Data collection using Vernier software & probes – aids in making the abstract more concrete
• Moodle course management – access to tutorials, extra practice problems, efficient feedback mechanism
• Use of You Tube, other videos,etc. – places learning in context