The Correlation between Extracurricular STEM Activities and Students with Disabilities

Abstract

Students with disabilities perform below their non-disabled peers in science (National Science Foundation, 2015). The purpose of the exploratory research was to determine if informal science learning activities offered in Florida districts make a difference on the performance of students with disabilities (SWD) on the 2015 8th grade Florida science assessment using quasi-experimental research methods. After determining a statistically significant difference does exist on the difference between students with and without disabilities on the 8th Grade Florida Science Assessment, the researcher determined if STEM personnel track the number of students with disabilities who participate in STEM activities. The number and types of STEM activities were collected by district. Lastly, the researcher determined there was a small correlation between SWD performance on the Science assessment and the number of STEM activities offered in each district. The Correlation between Extracurricular STEM activities and Student with Disabilities Performance on a Standardized Science AssessmentKarin Fisher, Georgia Southern University Abstract: Students with disabilities perform below their non-disabled peers in science (National Science Foundation, 2015). The purpose of the exploratory research was to determine if informal science learning activities offered in Florida districts make a difference on the performance of students with disabilities (SWD) on the 2015 8th grade Florida science assessment using quasi-experimental research methods. After determining a statistically significant difference does exist on the difference between students with and without disabilities on the 8th Grade Florida Science Assessment, the researcher determined if STEM personnel track the number of students with disabilities who participate in STEM activities. The number and types of STEM activities were collected by district. Lastly, the researcher determined there was a small correlation between SWD performance on the Science assessment and the number of STEM activities offered in each district.

Perspectives of Students With Disabilities and Their Parents on Influences and Barriers to Joining and Staying in Extracurricular STEM Activities

“…While past and current research are encouraging and supporting the participation of SWDs in clubs, there is still a need for research focused on SWDs and extracurricular STEM activities (Coster et al, 2013; Fisher, 2016). The need to understand why SWDs participated in afterschool STEM clubs and understand their experiences in those clubs is crucial to increasing diversity in STEM and ultimately improving the employment opportunities for SWDs in STEM fields.…”