They Choose to Attend Academic Summer Camps? A Mixed Methods Study Exploring the Impact of a NASA Academic Summer Pre-Engineering Camp On Middle School Students in a Latino Community

Abstract

Early exposure to engineering and mathematics career opportunities has been indicated to influence students' decisions regarding their academic majors and career goals. This study utilized mixed methods to analyze how changes in middle school students' affective characteristics might be linked to their future career decision-making, following participation in an integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics summer camp. As part of the summer camp, rising sixth-through eighth-grade students attended a weeklong learning experience based on a specific engineering context. Each grade level cohort participated with their same grade peers in a 36-hour, 6-day event focused on sparking their interest in engineering careers and developing their content knowledge in select science and mathematics content areas. Pre-post testing was conducted with 65 students of diverse backgrounds in grades six through eight to measure their self-reported engineering-related self-efficacy, knowledge of engineering careers, and motivation to pursue future engineering classes and careers. In addition, interviews were conducted to examine any changes in middle school camp participants' affective characteristics of motivation, self-efficacy, and self-determination.

Digital Tools Entering the Scene in STEM Activities for Physics Teaching

“…unquestionably related to the need to captivate students and future professionals for these scientific areas. Several studies aim to understand the influence of STEM programs on students' interest, motivation, and attitudes towards these scientific areas [5][6][7]. These investigations point to several benefits and effects on motivation and students' choice for STEM careers.…”

A Study of Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions of Engineers and Conceptions of Engineering

“…Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are considered fundamental to the nation's economy [1]. In today's world, it is critical to attract and retain more students in STEM fields [2]. With this in mind, teachers are sources of knowledge for students, and they inevitably have a significant influence on a student's self-image and perceived interests and abilities [3].…”

ENGage LSU 2.0: Transitioning a Field Trip Experience to a Virtual Format and Its Impact on Middle School Students (Evaluation)

“…Although some programs targeting middle school students outside of the classroom have not been shown to make large leaps in student interest in STEM [12], many other universitysponsored middle activities including a 90-minute engineering week program and an after-school robotics program have reported impressive successes in increasing middle school interest in engineering [13], [14]. This research led the authors to design an event to introduce middle school students to the myriad of career choices in engineering, ENGage LSU.…”