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