Changing the Perception of STEM

Careers for Diverse Middle School Students

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A Partnership between UCF and Workforce Central Florida

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Participating Central Florida Public School Districts

• Lake County• Orange County• Osceola County• Seminole County• Sumter District

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Expose underrepresented student populations to STEM careers.

Make a “real life” connection for students to mathematics and science courses.

Give students a condensed college life experience.

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Student Participants

• Under-represented minorities and females

Resulting Groups:• 5 Heterogeneous Camps (male & female)• 2 Homogenous Camps (one all male, one all

female)

Targeted Population:

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What does the literature say?

United States as a STEM super power (McNeill et al., 2008)

National Focus (Blickenstaff, 2005; Griffith, 2010; Museus et al., 2011; Price, 2010)

Underrepresentation of minorities (Museus et al., 2011)

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DATA

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A Qualitative Study

Methodology

Post Test

Pre Test

STEM CAMP

• Survey • Interviews

• Intervention

• Survey • Intervie

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Interview Questions

Pre Test

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• What is S.T.E.M.?

• What do you think of when you think of Science?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Science?

• What do you think of when you think of Technology?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Technology?

• What do you think of when you think of Engineering?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Engineering?

• What do you think of when you think of Math?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Math?

• Of the jobs that you previously mentioned, do you see yourself

obtaining a position in one of those fields? Why or why not?

• How is STEM useful in our country (the United States) at this time?

• How is STEM useful to you in your daily activities?

• What do you expect to learn from this summer experience?

Interview Questions

Post Test

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• What is S.T.E.M.?

• What do you think of when you think of Science?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Science?

• What do you think of when you think of Technology?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Technology?

• What do you think of when you think of Engineering?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Engineering?

• What do you think of when you think of Math?

• What jobs come to mind when you think of Math?

• Of the jobs that you previously mentioned, do you see yourself

obtaining a position in one of those fields? Why or why not?

• How is STEM useful in our country (the United States) at this time?

• How is STEM useful to you in your daily activities?

• What did you learn about STEM from this experience?

• How has this camp changed how you feel about STEM?

OutcomesEffects on Participants

More students interested in STEM

Students began considering STEM careers

Camps resulted in a change in perceptions

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Foundational knowledge was increased after camp# 2

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Increase in understanding of the usefulness of STEM

# 5

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UCF & Industry Partners

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On Campus Activities

Bridge Building

Simulated Classroom

Rocket Building/Launch

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More On Campus Activities

Training Simulators

Engineering structures with playing cards

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• Hands on Learning• Collaborative Problem Solving• Real World Issues

Architecture & Design

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Egg Drop Activity

Problem Solving

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Planning for STEM CampThinking Outside of the Box

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Target a population of students – pick a school or several

Budget keeping costs down On campus partners Meals Transportation Utilize existing university industry

partnerships Determine length of camp (our plan 4 days) Enhance the college experience Highlight the college residential experience Include engaging hands on STEM activities

What are you going to do to create a STEM experience at your school?

Contact information is located on Wikispaces:

http://experiencestem.wikispaces.com/

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Will your preservice teacher be comfortable with STEM content?