scholarly journals A Summer Academic Research Experience for Disadvantaged Youth

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathryn Kabacoff ◽  
Vasudha Srivastava ◽  
Douglas N. Robinson

Internships are an effective way of connecting high school students in a meaningful manner to the sciences. Disadvantaged minorities have fewer opportunities to participate in internships, and are underrepresented in both science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors and careers. We have developed a Summer Academic Research Experience (SARE) program that provides an enriching academic internship to underrepresented youth. Our program has shown that to have a successful internship for these disadvantaged youth, several issues need to be addressed in addition to scientific mentoring. We have found that it is necessary to remediate and/or fortify basic academic skills for students to be successful. In addition, students need to be actively coached in the development of professional skills, habits, and attitudes necessary for success in the workplace. With all these factors in place, these youths can become better students, compete on a more level playing field in their internships, and increase their potential of participating actively in the sciences in the future.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 515-531
Author(s):  
Karla Cristina Avendaño Rodríguez ◽  
Deneb Eli Magaña Medina ◽  
Pedro Flores Crespo

La sociedad experimenta cambios científicos y tecnológicos que están obligando a las economías a centrar su atención en la formación de capital humano con un perfil en ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM por sus siglas en inglés). Elegir una carrera es una decisión de tipo individual y familiar, este artículo tiene como objetivo conocer la influencia de la familia (madre o tutora, padre o tutor y hermanos) en la elección de carreras STEM en estudiantes de segundo y sexto semestre de bachillerato. Se entrevistó a 1 mil 759 estudiantes de seis bachilleratos distintos, a través de un muestreo no probabilístico, por cuotas. Los resultados muestran que la madre o tutora es la figura que más influye en la elección de una carrera STEM en comparación con el padre o tutor. Se pensó que los hermanos podrían tener un efecto mayor en los estudiantes, no obstante, los resultados muestran que no es significativo que tengan o no hermanos y que estos puedan influir en la elección de carrera. Sin embargo, es necesario profundizar más en el estudio de los hermanos mayores que egresan de carreras STEM y el efecto que esto tiene en la elección de los hermanos menores, aspecto que no se abordó en la investigación. El estudio no profundizo en variables como: el tipo de carrera y el rol laboral que desempeñan los padres y si está o no relacionado con las áreas STEM. Se concluye que las familias deben realizar actividades no formales que ayuden a despertar el interés en la ciencia y aumentar su capital cultural desde edades tempranas. Society experiences scientific and technological changes that are forcing economies to focus their attention on the development of human capital with a profile in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This article aims to demonstrate the influence of the family (mother or guardian father or guardian and siblings) on the choice of STEM careers in high school students during their second and sixth semester, since choosing a career is an individual and family decision. A total of 1,759 students from six different high schools were interviewed, through a non-probabilistic sampling, by quotas. The results show that the mother or guardian is the figure that most influences the choice of a STEM career compared to the father or guardian. It was thought that siblings could have a greater effect on students, however, the results show that it is not significant that they have siblings or that siblings can influence their choice. However, it is necessary to go deeper into the study of older brothers who graduate from STEM degrees and the effect this has on the younger brother’s election, an aspect that was not addressed in the investigation. The study did not delve into variables such as the type of career and the labor role played by parents and whether or not it is related to STEM areas. In conclusion, families must carry out non-formal activities that help awaken interest in science and increase their cultural capital from an early age.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-70
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Collins ◽  
Joanna Totino ◽  
Ardice Hartry ◽  
Valeria F. Romero ◽  
Rosio Pedroso ◽  
...  

Background: Women and people of color are consistently underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and careers. Though there are myriad factors underlying these gaps, one potential variable may be the extent to which these students feel connected to their STEM classroom experiences. Purpose: The present study investigated the potential of a service-learning experience to support STEM engagement for underrepresented youth. Methodology/Approach: Two cohorts of high school students participated in a summer program through which they built “solar suitcases” to provide electricity for communities in need. Observations and student surveys measured student engagement and changes in STEM attitudes, dispositions, and beliefs. Findings/Conclusions: Students were highly engaged in service-learning activities and demonstrated improved Science Fascination, Science Values, and STEM Career Affinity after participating in the program. Implications: Implications for the design and delivery of culturally relevant service-learning experiences are discussed.


Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (20) ◽  
pp. e1799-e1804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia T. Minen ◽  
Alexandra Boubour

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.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003804072110147
Author(s):  
Catherine Riegle-Crumb ◽  
Menglu Peng

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.


Author(s):  
Witold Kinsner ◽  
Nusraat Masood ◽  
Randy Herrmann ◽  
Mohamed Nasri ◽  
Hieu Van Dang ◽  
...  

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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