Examining High School Students’ Gendered Beliefs about Math: Predictors and Implications for Choice of STEM College Majors

2021 ◽  
pp. 003804072110147
Author(s):  
Catherine Riegle-Crumb ◽  
Menglu Peng
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
School Students ◽  
College Majors ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Math Ability ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
And Mathematics

Utilizing the High School Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school students, this study investigates the factors that predict different beliefs about gendered math ability and the potential consequences for students’ choices to enter gender-segregated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors in college. Among other results, analyses reveal that while about 25 percent of students report a traditionally stereotypical belief in male superiority, about 20 percent report a counter-stereotypical belief in female superiority; among female students, such beliefs are more common among black students. Further, models reveal a robust association between holding counter-stereotypical beliefs and the likelihood that women choose biological science majors, which are female dominated, compared to non-STEM fields. Among men, holding counter-stereotypical beliefs is associated with a lower likelihood of majoring in physical science, computer science, math, and engineering fields, which are strongly male dominated, versus non-STEM fields. Implications for gender inequality in STEM fields are discussed.

STEM-Focused Career Courses and College Pipeline for Students with Learning Disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 089590482110199
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Freeman ◽  
Michael A. Gottfried ◽  
Jay Stratte Plasman
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
High School Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Students With Learning Disabilities ◽  
School Students ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Career And Technical ◽  
Nationally Representative

Recent educational policies in the United States have fostered the growth of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career-focused courses to support high school students’ persistence into these fields in college and beyond. As one key example, federal legislation has embedded new types of “applied STEM” (AS) courses into the career and technical education curriculum (CTE), which can help students persist in STEM through high school and college. Yet, little is known about the link between AS-CTE coursetaking and college STEM persistence for students with learning disabilities (LDs). Using a nationally representative data set, we found no evidence that earning more units of AS-CTE in high school influenced college enrollment patterns or major selection in non-AS STEM fields for students with LDs. That said, students with LDs who earned more units of AS-CTE in high school were more likely to seriously consider and ultimately declare AS-related STEM majors in college.

Beyond Academic Math: The Role of Applied STEM Course Taking in High School

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Gottfried ◽  
Robert Bozick ◽  
Sinduja V. Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
National Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Els 2002 ◽  
Federal Initiatives ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
K 12

Background/Context Educational policymakers and researchers are concerned about the declining quantity and quality of U.S. students in line to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. As one policy response, a number of federal initiatives have been enacted to enhance STEM curriculum in schools. Part of this push has been to offer applied STEM courses in the K–12 curriculum to reinforce academic STEM material as well as motivate students to remain in these fields. Prior to this current study, no national-level research has evaluated the effectiveness of these courses. Purpose (a) What applied STEM courses are most commonly taken by high school students? (b) To what extent are high school students taking both academic math courses and applied STEM courses? (c) Do applied STEM courses in high school improve achievement in math? Participants To address the three research questions listed above, this study relies on a comprehensive longitudinal dataset: the Education Longitudinal Survey (ELS:2002). The present study is based on a sample of approximately 11,112 students who participated in the base-year (10th grade, 2002) and first follow-up (12th grade 2004) interviews, who completed math assessments in both years, and for whom valid transcript information was collected. Research Design This study begins with a descriptive analysis to evaluate which students have taken applied STEM courses and at which ability level. From this, a common set of applied STEM courses is determined across this nationally representative dataset. Next, this study relies on a linear regression model of math achievement where the dependent variable is a standardized math score. Independent covariates include measures as to whether or not a student had taken applied STEM courses, academic math courses taken by the student, and a range of controls. Findings Students who take an applied STEM course had higher math scores than their peers who did not take an applied STEM course, all else equal. These courses may be particularly beneficial for those students who are less oriented toward advanced math. Conclusions/Recommendations Applied STEM courses can be used to support learning in math instructed elsewhere in the curriculum, particularly for those students at the lower end of the math pipeline. In providing hands-on learning, often with technology and with direct application to concrete occupationally specific problems, applied STEM courses may serve as a critical means to support an understanding of concepts taught in lower level math pipeline courses.

scholarly journals A pilot educational intervention for headache and concussion

Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (20) ◽  
pp. e1799-e1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia T. Minen ◽  
Alexandra Boubour
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Visual Arts ◽  
Research Program ◽  
School Students ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Longitudinal Effects ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
And Mathematics

ObjectiveUsing a science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum, we developed, piloted, and tested the Headache and Arts Program. This program seeks to increase knowledge and awareness of migraine and concussion among high school students through a visual arts–based curriculum.MethodsWe developed a 2-week Headache and Arts Program with lesson plans and art assignments for high school visual arts classes and an age-appropriate assessment to assess students' knowledge of migraine and concussion. We assessed students' knowledge through (1) the creation of artwork that depicted the experience of a migraine or concussion, (2) the conception and implementation of methods to transfer knowledge gained through the program, and (3) preassessment and postassessment results. The assessment was distributed to all students prior to the Headache and Arts Program. In a smaller sample, we distributed the assessment 3 months after the program to assess longitudinal effects. Descriptive analyses and p values were calculated using SPSS V.24 and Microsoft Excel.ResultsForty-eight students participated in the research program. Students created artwork that integrated STEAM knowledge learned through the program and applied creative methods to teach others about migraine and concussion. At baseline, students' total scores averaged 67.6% correct. Total scores for the longitudinal preassessment, immediate postassessment, and delayed 3-month postassessment averaged 69.4%, 72.8%, and 80.0% correct, respectively.ConclusionThe use of a visual arts–based curriculum may be effective for migraine and concussion education among high school students.

scholarly journals PRE-UNIVERSITY OUTREACH THROUGH A SPACE CAMP AND A KIRKNESS DISCOVERY CAMP

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Witold Kinsner ◽  
Nusraat Masood ◽  
Randy Herrmann ◽  
Mohamed Nasri ◽  
Hieu Van Dang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Service Program ◽  
School Students ◽  
University Outreach ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics

Attracting high-school students to science,technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) shouldbe easy today, but it is not in practice. Universities andorganizations such as the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) have invested much effortand implemented many useful mechanisms to increase theenrollment, including open house events, teaching teachersdays, IEEE’s Teachers In Service Program (TISP), IEEE’sEngineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS), aswell as IEEE’s TryEngineering, TryComputing, andTryNano. We have developed a number of new initiatives toaddress the problem in Manitoba, and feel that theapproach can be used elsewhere.This paper describes two such initiatives: a spacecamp for high-school students grade 9 to 11, and the VernaKirkness Program (VKP) discovery camp for Indigenoushigh-school students. The first camp was offered severaltimes already, while the second camp was delivered for thefirst time in 2013.

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