Reframing Achievement Setbacks: A Motivation Intervention to Improve 8-Year Graduation Rates for Students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fields

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 623-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy M. Hamm ◽  
Raymond P. Perry ◽  
Judith G. Chipperfield ◽  
Steve Hladkyj ◽  
Patti C. Parker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Graduation Rates ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
College Dropout ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Stem Disciplines ◽  
And Mathematics

Despite increased emphasis on educating students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, nearly half of U.S. college students who enroll in these programs fail to graduate with STEM degrees. Using archival data from the Motivation and Academic Achievement Database, we tested whether a motivation intervention to reframe causal attributions for academic setbacks improved graduation rates for college students in STEM disciplines ( N = 496). Results showed that the intervention increased the odds of 8-year graduation for students who were at risk of college dropout. Findings highlight the potential of theory-informed psychological interventions to increase persistence to graduation for at-risk students in STEM fields.

Views From Parents of At-Risk Students in Singapore Towards the Use of Fun Design-and-Make STEM Projects to Foster Creativity and Joy of Learning

2021 ◽  
pp. 106-131
Author(s):  
Nazir Amir
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics

This chapter reports the views from parents of 38 students, averaging 13 years of age, in a secondary school in Singapore towards the use of appealing design-and-make toy projects to foster joy of learning and creativity in science amongst their children who are in an academically low achieving group. An instrument to capture the parents' views was developed and administered in a parent-teacher conference (PTC) at the end of the school term. In the PTC, parents and siblings of these students had a chance to look through their design journals and fiddled with their toy inventions. Information gathered from the parents highlight that they value the teacher's approach in motivating and engaging their children to learn science and were impressed with the creativity showcased by their children through the toy projects. Such positive views from the parents affirm the use of appealing design-and-make toy projects to promote interest and understanding in science, as well as foster their creativity and inventiveness in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) areas.

Combining Academics and Social Engagement: A Major-Specific Early Alert Method to Counter Student Attrition in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-626
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Sage ◽  
Cinzia Cervato ◽  
Ulrike Genschel ◽  
Craig A. Ogilvie
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Stem Retention ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Institutional Retention ◽  
Noncognitive Factors

Students are most likely to leave science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors during their first year of college. We developed an analytic approach using random forests to identify at-risk students. This method is deployable midway through the first semester and accounts for academic preparation, early engagement in university life, and performance on midterm exams. By accounting for cognitive and noncognitive factors, our method achieves stronger predictive performance than would be possible using cognitive or noncognitive factors alone. We show that it is more difficult to predict whether students will leave STEM than whether they will leave the institution. More factors contribute to STEM retention than to institutional retention. Early academic performance is the strongest predictor of STEM and institution retention. Social engagement is more predictive of institutional retention, while standardized test scores, goals, and interests are stronger predictors of STEM retention. Our approach assists universities to efficiently identify at-risk students and boost STEM retention.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Academic Efficacy across STEM Fields

2021 ◽  
pp. 073112142110286
Author(s):  
Jennifer Ashlock ◽  
Miodrag Stojnic ◽  
Zeynep Tufekci
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Middle Schoolers ◽  
Self Assessments ◽  
Math Grades ◽  
And Mathematics

Cultural processes can reduce self-selection into math and science fields, but it remains unclear how confidence in computer science develops, where women are currently the least represented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Few studies evaluate both computer skills and self-assessments of skill. In this paper, we evaluate gender differences in efficacy across three STEM fields using a data set of middle schoolers, a particularly consequential period for academic pathways. Even though girls and boys do not significantly differ in terms of math grades and have similar levels of computer skill, the gender gap in computer efficacy is twice as large as the gap for math. We offer support for disaggregation of STEM fields, so the unique meaning making around computing can be addressed.

Navigating the Landscape of the STEM Professoriate

2019 ◽  
pp. 22-65
Author(s):  
Pamela M. Leggett-Robinson ◽  
Brandi Campbell Villa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Women Of Color ◽  
Institutional Racism ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Trade Magazines ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Theses And Dissertations

In 1976, the challenges faced by women of color who pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields were first brought to national attention. Forty-two years later, the authors re-examine the challenges, barriers, and successes of women of color in STEM higher education. This chapter examines the landscape of the STEM professoriate through a literature review (journals, trade magazines, theses, and dissertations) and reflective shorts and quotes from women of color navigating the STEM professoriate. The literature review spans a 10-year period (2008-2018). Both the review and the reflections focus on the areas of STEM belonging, self-presentation, stereotyping, institutional racism, discrimination, and tokenism as challenges faced by women of color in the STEM professoriate. Additionally, mechanisms used by women of color to navigate and succeed despite these barriers, such as mentoring, are explored throughout.

scholarly journals Feeling Like an Imposter: The Effect of Perceived Classroom Competition on the Daily Psychological Experiences of First-Generation College Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 647-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Canning ◽  
Jennifer LaCosse ◽  
Kathryn M. Kroeper ◽  
Mary C. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Stem Careers ◽  
Course Grades ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Interpersonal Competition ◽  
Course Engagement

Many college students intend to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers but quickly abandon these goals when confronted with notoriously competitive STEM courses that often pit students against each other. This emphasis on interpersonal competition could be especially detrimental for first-generation (FG) college students, an underrepresented group in STEM fields which more strongly values communality and collaboration relative to their continuing-generation peers. Thus, FG students may experience more imposter feelings in STEM courses perceived as having a competitive culture. A longitudinal study (with 818 students and 2,638 experience-sampling observations) found that perceived classroom competition was associated with greater daily in-class imposter feelings among all students—but especially among FG students. Imposter feelings in turn predicted students’ end-of-term course engagement, attendance, dropout intentions, and course grades. Classroom competition and the imposter feelings it engenders may be an overlooked barrier for promoting the engagement, performance, and retention of FG students in STEM.

scholarly journals Breaking Down Silos Working Meeting: An Approach to Fostering Cross-Disciplinary STEM–DBER Collaborations through Working Meetings

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. mr3
Author(s):  
Daniel L. Reinholz ◽  
Tessa C. Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Research ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Institutional Transformation ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Professional Societies ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics

There has been a recent push for greater collaboration across the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in discipline-based education research (DBER). The DBER fields are unique in that they require a deep understanding of both disciplinary content and educational research. DBER scholars are generally trained and hold professional positions in discipline-specific departments. The professional societies with which DBER scholars are most closely aligned are also often discipline specific. This frequently results in DBER researchers working in silos. At the same time, there are many cross-cutting issues across DBER research in higher education, and DBER researchers across disciplines can benefit greatly from cross-disciplinary collaborations. This report describes the Breaking Down Silos working meeting, which was a short, focused meeting intentionally designed to foster such collaborations. The focus of Breaking Down Silos was institutional transformation in STEM education, but we describe the ways the overall meeting design and structure could be a useful model for fostering cross-­disciplinary collaborations around other research priorities of the DBER community. We describe our approach to meeting recruitment, premeeting work, and inclusive meeting design. We also highlight early outcomes from our perspective and the perspectives of the meeting participants.

Persistence of Latinas in STEM at an R1 Higher Education Institution in Texas

2020 ◽  
pp. 153819272091836
Author(s):  
Elsa Gonzalez ◽  
Cecilia Contreras Aguirre ◽  
Joenie Myers
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Resilience Theory ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Latina Students ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Tier 1 ◽  
And Mathematics

This study examined the success and persistence of Latina students in the complex environment of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at a Tier 1 Research higher education institution in Texas. For this qualitative study, 10 Latina students pursuing STEM majors were interviewed within a framework focusing on Greene’s resilience theory. Results of this study suggest a strong likelihood for Latinas to succeed in STEM fields because of their development of resilience.

Old Problem, New Perspectives: Applying Anzaldúan Concepts to Underrepresentation in STEM

2020 ◽  
pp. 089484532090179
Author(s):  
Ellen Hawley McWhirter ◽  
Rachel Gali Cinamon
Keyword(s):  
Stem Education ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Work Settings ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Information Awareness ◽  
And Mathematics

Women and members of many ethnic minority groups continue to be significantly underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and work settings. In this article, we propose that Gloria Anzaldúa’s concepts of nepantla and nepantleras/os can be used to enrich perspectives on underrepresentation among those studying, working, and persisting in STEM fields. We describe how diversity practices may fail to address and foster inclusion in STEM education and workplaces and link inclusion and belonging to engagement and retention in STEM. Recommendations are offered for combining top-down and bottom-up strategies providing information, awareness, and skills training in STEM environments, including recognizing and engaging the insights and experiences of nepantleras/os.

Expertise in STEM Disciplines

2019 ◽  
pp. 528-550
Author(s):  
David F. Feldon ◽  
Soojeong Jeong ◽  
Joana Franco
Keyword(s):  
Modern Society ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Expert Performance ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Training And Education ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Stem Disciplines ◽  
New Directions ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact

Enhancing expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is vital to promoting both the intellectual and economic development of a modern society. This chapter synthesizes relevant studies on the acquisition and development of STEM expertise from different areas of research, including cognitive psychology, the psychology of science, sociology and anthropology, and educational research. Specifically, first, the structure of relevant STEM disciplines in conceptualizing the domain of expertise are discussed. Then the fundamental mechanisms of thinking and problem-solving practices in science and engineering that underlie expert performance within these disciplines are presented. Issues pertaining to assessment and recognition of expertise in STEM fields are also examined. Lastly, evidence pertaining to the impact of training and education on the development of STEM expertise is reviewed. The chapter closes with a critical analysis of STEM expertise research to date and identifies unanswered critical questions and new directions for future research.

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