scholarly journals Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Experiences of Student-Athletes in STEM with Dual Advising

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-63
Author(s):  
Nikola Grafnetterova ◽  
Hilda Cecilia Contreras Aguirre ◽  
Rosa M. Banda
Keyword(s):  
Student Athletes ◽  
College Graduates ◽  
Division I ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Dream Work ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

Despite the nation's critical need for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college graduates, the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I student-athletes represent a small portion of STEM majors. Student-athletes pursuing STEM disciplines benefit from the assistance of academic and athletic advisors; this study explored student-athletes' experiences with such dual advising. Building on Terenzini and Reason's (2005) comprehensive model of influences on student learning and persistence, our findings highlighted STEM athletes' need for individualized advising, support engagement in STEM, and options and flexibility in the curriculum. The study also exposed uncertainty about the different roles of academic and athletic advising units and the ways limited communication diminishes the effectiveness of the advising units' collaborative efforts.

scholarly journals Life Science Undergraduate Mentors in NE STEM 4U Significantly Outperform Their Peers in Critical Thinking Skills

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. ar54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari L. Nelson ◽  
Claudia M. Rauter ◽  
Christine E. Cutucache
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
College Graduates ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Academic Year

The development of critical thinking skills in recent college graduates is keenly requested by employers year after year. Moreover, improving these skills can help students to better question and analyze data. Consequently, we aimed to implement a training program that would add to the critical thinking skills of undergraduate students: Nebraska Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math 4U (NE STEM 4U). In this program, undergraduates provide outreach, mentoring, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education to K–8 students. To determine the impacts of serving as an undergraduate mentor in this program on critical thinking, we compared undergraduate mentors (intervention group) with nonmentor STEM majors (nonintervention, matched group) using the valid and reliable California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) as a pre/post measurement. Importantly, before the intervention, both NE STEM 4U mentors and nonmentor undergraduates scored similarly overall on the CCTST. However, the posttest, carried out one academic year later, indicated significant gains in critical thinking by the NE STEM 4U mentors compared with the nonmentors. Specifically, the math-related skills of analysis, inference, and numeracy improved significantly in mentors compared with nonmentors.

scholarly journals Enabling creative collaboration for all levels of learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 1878-1885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngmoo E. Kim ◽  
Brandon G. Morton ◽  
Jeff Gregorio ◽  
David S. Rosen ◽  
Kareem Edouard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Work Experiences ◽  
Student Work ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
12Th Grade ◽  
Drexel University ◽  
Graduate Research ◽  
Integrated Programs ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Professional Artists

A potential path for enabling greater creativity and collaboration is through increased arts and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) integration in education and research. This approach has been a growing discussion in US national forums and is the foundation of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics plus arts and design (STEAM) education movement. Developing authentic artistic integrations with STEM fields (or vice versa) is challenging, particularly in higher education, where traditional disciplinary structures and incentives can impede the creation of integrated programs. Measuring and assessing the outcomes of such integration efforts can be even more challenging, since traditional metrics do not necessarily capture new opportunities created for students and faculty, and the greatest impact may occur over a long period (a career). At Drexel University, we created the Expressive & Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center as a standalone institute to pursue and enable such transdisciplinary arts–STEM collaborations, particularly with external arts and education partners. In this perspectives paper, we highlight a range of projects and outcomes resulting from such external collaborations, including graduate research with professional artists, undergraduate student work experiences, and STEAM-based education programs for kindergarten through 12th-grade (K-12) students. While each project has its own specific objectives and outcomes, we believe that they collectively demonstrate this integrated transdisciplinary approach to be impactful and potentially transformative for all levels of learning.

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.

Attrition of Women in STEM

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonghong Jade Xu
Keyword(s):  
College Graduates ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Career Outcomes ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Social Structural ◽  
Female Presence ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Mathematics

Data from a national survey are used to examine how individual characteristics and social structural factors may influence college graduates choosing an occupation that is congruent with their undergraduate field of study. Analysis is conducted separately for males and females and for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM majors. Comparisons between the subgroups help to identify factors that may contribute to improving career outcomes and, in particular, lowering the attrition rates in STEM at transition from college to employment. The results suggest that positive career outcomes, such as better earnings and greater job satisfaction, are associated with individuals having an occupation congruent with their college major. STEM graduates have a lower unemployment rate than non-STEM graduates, but female presence in STEM majors remains low; and gender inequality (salary and employment status) in STEM occupations is significant from the very beginning of postbaccalaureate employment.

Learning Scientific Reasoning Skills May Be Key to Retention in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie L. Jensen ◽  
Shannon Neeley ◽  
Jordan B. Hatch ◽  
Ted Piorczynski
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Reasoning ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Reasoning Ability ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Freshman Year ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Reasoning Skills ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
High Level

The United States produces too few Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates to meet demand. We investigated scientific reasoning ability as a possible factor in STEM retention. To do this, we classified students in introductory biology courses at a large private university as either declared STEM or non-STEM majors and assessed their reasoning ability using the Lawson Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning. We then obtained their declared majors 1 to 4 years later. We found that reasoning ability correlates with high-level performance and final course grades. In addition, results indicate that STEM majors have higher reasoning skills than non-STEM majors but not until after the freshman year. However, we show that reasoning ability does not predict retention or declaration of a STEM degree and suggests instead that increased reasoning skills are a product of learning. We suggest educational interventions that may plug the leaky pipeline in STEM education.

scholarly journals The Socialization of STEM Professionals Into STEM Careers: A Study of Newly Hired Engineers

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Korte ◽  
Samantha Brunhaver ◽  
Sarah M. Zehr
Keyword(s):  
Workforce Development ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Stem Careers ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Engineering Work ◽  
Organizational Work ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Newly Hired

The Problem Recently there has been a growing interest to increase the number of people entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. One of the major problems with this “supply-side” model is that it sees STEM workforce development narrowly as one of inputs (recruitment) and ignores the practice of STEM work, which affects the retention of professionals in STEM careers. The Solution Informed by recent research and theory on career development, we studied the work experiences of newly hired engineers in one organization. A key finding is that a major part of their experiences involved organizational work and social dynamics outside of what many considered to be “real” engineering work. We propose that these experiences provide important insights for the education and retention of STEM workers. The Stakeholders Faculty in higher education that prepare STEM workers, managers in organizations that hire new STEM workers, and aspiring STEM workers.

Gender Equity in College Majors: Looking Beyond the STEM/Non-STEM Dichotomy for Answers Regarding Female Participation

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen M. Ganley ◽  
Casey E. George ◽  
Joseph R. Cimpian ◽  
Martha B. Makowski
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equity ◽  
Gender Bias ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
College Major ◽  
College Majors ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Els 2002 ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact

Women are underrepresented in many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and in some non-STEM majors (e.g., philosophy). Combining newly gathered data on students’ perceptions of college major traits with data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), we find that perceived gender bias against women emerges as the dominant predictor of the gender balance in college majors. The perception of the major being math or science oriented is less important. We replicate these findings using a separate sample to measure college major traits. Results suggest the need to incorporate major-level traits in research on gender gaps in college major choices and the need to recognize the impact of perceptions of potential gender discrimination on college major choices.

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