scholarly journals Predicting pathways to optional summer science experiences by socioeconomic status and the impact on science attitudes and skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison S. Liu ◽  
Christian D. Schunn
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Science Attitudes ◽  
School Students ◽  
Self Selection ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Large achievement and motivation gaps exist in science between students from higher and lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds. Middle and high school are an important time to address these disparities, as science motivation typically declines for all students at this time, leading to particularly low science interest and achievement for lower SES students on average when the gaps are left unaddressed. Students’ control over their free time also increases at this time, providing opportunities for optional science experiences that may improve science attitudes and skills to combat these achievement and motivation gaps. Using a longitudinal dataset of 2252 middle and high school students from two regions in the USA, we investigate (1) disparities between higher and lower SES students in participation in optional summer science experiences and post-summer science attitudes and skills; (2) whether the child and family characteristics that predict participation in home-related, nature-related, and STEM camp experiences in the summer differ for higher and lower SES students; and (3) how participation in these types of optional summer science experiences contribute to post-summer science attitudes and skills when controlling for self-selection biases. Results Higher SES students reported greater participation in optional summer science experiences and higher post-summer science attitudes and sensemaking skills. Fascination for science was more important for participation in home-related and nature-related experiences for higher SES participants, whereas science competency beliefs were more important for lower SES participants. For STEM camp experiences, higher SES participants with higher competency beliefs and lower SES participants with lower scientific sensemaking skills were more likely to participate. After controlling for self-selection biases that may influence participation in these experiences, we found that home-related and nature-related experiences had a positive impact on students’ attitudes toward science. Conclusions Our findings suggest two pathways for increasing participation in optional summer science experiences for higher SES and lower SES students. Specifically, it may be helpful to support interest in science for higher SES students and competency beliefs for lower SES students. Greater participation in home-related and nature-related summer science experiences can also increase science attitudes during middle and high school.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Short-Term Pharmacology Enrichment Program on Knowledge and Science Attitudes in Precollege Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly N Downing ◽  
Katherine E Rooney ◽  
Abigail Norris Turner ◽  
Nicole Kwiek
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Attitudes Toward Science ◽  
Science Attitudes ◽  
Science Careers ◽  
Science Knowledge ◽  
Short Term ◽  
School Students ◽  
Enrichment Program ◽  
The Impact

As our nation and the global economy place an increased demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs, science educators must implement innovative approaches to pique precollege student’s interests in these careers. Pharmacology remains a relevant and engaging platform to teach biology and chemistry concepts, and this strategy applied over several months in the formal classroom increases science literacy in high school students. In order to improve the affordability and accessibility of this educational approach, we developed and assessed the impact of a short-term pharmacology day camp, ‘Pills, Potions, and Poisons’ (PPP), on high school students’ science knowledge and attitudes toward science careers. The PPP program was offered annually from 2009 through 2012, and participants spent 6 days learning about pharmacology and careers in the biomedical sciences. All PPP student participants (n=134) completed surveys assessing their basic science knowledge and science attitudes before and after the program. Students achieved significant gains in their science knowledge by the end (Day 6) of the PPP program (from 41% mean test score to 65%; p<0.001). In addition, the majority of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the PPP program positively impacted their attitudes toward science (p<0.001). This study provides evidence that a short-term pharmacology-centered science enrichment program can achieve significant gains in participant’s science knowledge as well as motivation and confidence towards science careers. Moreover, we report benefits experienced by the undergraduate, graduate, and professional pharmacy student teaching assistants (TAs, n=10) who reported improved communication skills and an increased interest in future educational work.   Type: Original Research

scholarly journals Do students need more information to leave the beaten paths? The impact of a counseling intervention on high school students’ choice of major

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim G. Piepenburg ◽  
Lukas Fervers
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Gender Segregation ◽  
School Students ◽  
Counseling Intervention ◽  
Choice Of Major ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
The Impact

AbstractDespite an almost endless list of possible study programs and occupational opportunities, high school students frequently focus on pursuing a small number of well-known study programs. Students also often follow gender-typical paths and restrict their attention to study programs in which the majority of students consists of same-gendered people. This choice pattern has far-reaching consequences, including persistent gender segregation and an undersupply of graduates in emerging sectors of the industry. Building on rational choice and social psychological theory, we argue that this pattern partly occurs due to information deficits that may be altered by counseling interventions. To assess this claim empirically, we evaluated the impact of a counseling intervention on the intended choice of major among high school students in Germany by means of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). We estimate the effect by instrumental variable estimation to account for two-sided non-compliance. Our results show that the intervention has increased the likelihood that participants will consider less well-known or gender-atypical study programs, particularly for high school students with lower starting levels of information. Supplementary analyses confirm that a positive impact on information seems to be one of the relevant causal mechanisms. These results suggest that counseling services have the potential to guide high school students to less gender-typical and well-known majors, possibly reducing gender segregation and smoothing labor market transitions after graduation.

scholarly journals The impact of computer and internet at home on academic results of the Saber 11 national exam in Colombia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Barrios Aguirre ◽  
Martha Patricia Castellanos Saavedra ◽  
Diego A. Forero ◽  
Sandra Yaneth Mora Malagón
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Educational Achievement ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Results ◽  
At Home

<p>The use of a computer and internet connection allows high school and university students to access more relevant information. However, there is no consensus on the effects of the use of these tools on academic results. This work evaluates the impact of computer and internet at home on the results of the Saber 11 test, a national exam taken by all students finishing their secondary education in Colombia, between 2017 and 2019. This impact was estimated from a pooled two-stage least squares (pooled 2SLS) model, applied to data from 1.578.460 Colombian high school students. We found that computer and internet at home had a positive impact on English language performance in the Saber 11 test in Colombia. This work allows a better understanding of the technological effects on educational achievement and provides information for the design of public policies for education in developing countries.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals The impact of computer and internet at home on academic results of the Saber 11 national exam in Colombia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Barrios Aguirre ◽  
Martha Patricia Castellanos Saavedra ◽  
Diego A. Forero ◽  
Sandra Yaneth Mora Malagón
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Educational Achievement ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Results ◽  
At Home

<p>The use of a computer and internet connection allows high school and university students to access more relevant information. However, there is no consensus on the effects of the use of these tools on academic results. This work evaluates the impact of computer and internet at home on the results of the Saber 11 test, a national exam taken by all students finishing their secondary education in Colombia, between 2017 and 2019. This impact was estimated from a pooled two-stage least squares (pooled 2SLS) model, applied to data from 1.578.460 Colombian high school students. We found that computer and internet at home had a positive impact on English language performance in the Saber 11 test in Colombia. This work allows a better understanding of the technological effects on educational achievement and provides information for the design of public policies for education in developing countries.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Motivation, Fortitude and Success: The Impact of Academic Efficacy and Academic Commitment on Academic Performance among Minority High School Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Christina Hughes ◽  
Carla Jones-Adams ◽  
David Branham Sr.
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Academic Efficacy ◽  
School Students ◽  
Education Outcomes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

<em>The importance of understanding the elements of success in the education of minority high school students is immense. Recognizing the causes of academic success for these students allows educators to employ better educational and motivational strategies. It has been shown that academic efficacy and academic commitment have a positive impact on academic performance. However, the interaction and relationship between these two variables in having a positive effect on education outcomes among minority high school students is not clear. This paper looks at the relationship between academic efficacy and academic commitment on academic performance among minority high school students. The findings reveal that academic commitment is positively associated with academic performance. However, while academic efficacy has a positive impact on academic commitment the results show that academic efficacy has no direct impact on academic performance among the respondents.</em>

scholarly journals The Impact of Computer and Internet at Home on Academic Results of the Saber 11 National Exam in Colombia

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402110408
Author(s):  
Fernando Barrios Aguirre ◽  
Diego A. Forero ◽  
Martha Patricia Castellanos Saavedra ◽  
Sandra Yaneth Mora Malagón
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Results ◽  
At Home

The use of a computer and internet connection allows high school and university students to access more relevant information. However, there is no consensus on the effects of the use of these tools on academic results. This work evaluates the impact of computers and the internet at home on the results of the Saber 11 test, a national exam taken by all students finishing their secondary education in Colombia, between 2017 and 2019. This impact was estimated from a pooled two-stage least squares (pooled 2SLS) model, applied to data from 1,578,460 Colombian high school students. We found that computers and the internet at home had a positive impact on English language performance in the Saber 11 test in Colombia. This work allows a better understanding of the technological effects on educational achievement and provides information for the design of public policies for education in developing countries.

scholarly journals The Academic Portfolio System (APS) Usage Intention of Senior High School Students in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8394
Author(s):  
Tsen-Yao Chang ◽  
Yu-Chieh Chiu
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Interface Design ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Model Verification ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
School Students

Taiwan began to implement a new high school syllabus nationwide, in 2019. The Ministry of Education has also established a high school student Academic Portfolio System (APS) to collect the learning process of high school students for future university admissions references. However, during this period, high school students and their parents had many opinions on the implementation of the new system. There were even groups of students protesting. The main purpose of this research is to explore the factors that affect the system usage intentions of high school students. Based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the technology acceptance model (TAM), this research established a research model. The research variables include system interface design, usefulness, ease of use, attitude, subjective norms, and usage intentions. A total of 712 questionnaires were collected from high school students in northern Taiwan. Data analysis is carried out in three stages: descriptive analysis, measurement model verification, and structural equation modeling. The results of the study found that system interface design has a significant impact on the perceived ease of use. Factors such as ease of use, usefulness, attitude, and subjective norms also have a significant positive impact on usage intention; ease of use and usefulness positively affect attitudes toward using. Finally, according to the results, some practical implications were proposed for implementation references from the perspectives of education authority, high schools, teachers, and students.

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