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ERIC Number: EJ1342428
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1557-5284
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Investigating Title I School Student STEM Attitudes and Experience in an After-School Problem-Based Bridge Building Project
Yang, Dazhi; Chittoori, Bhaskar
Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research, v23 n1 p17-24 Jan-Mar 2022
Previous studies suggest a strong correlation between exposure to hands-on STEM programs and positive attitudes toward and experience with STEM subject matter amongst, middle, high school, and university students. However, there has been little research on the impact of hands-on STEM projects on Title I (socioeconomically disadvantaged) elementary students. The current study investigated the outcome of a project-based bridge design project developed for Title I elementary students using a mixed-methods research design. 36 students participated in an eight-weeks after-school project-based bridge building curriculum using K'NEX building kits. Quantitative data were collected on student attitudes towards STEM before and after the student participation using a STEM attitude survey. Qualitative data were collected via focus-group interviews at the project's conclusion. Survey results show that student attitudes toward engineering and technology had a significant increase in favorable perception after participation. However, student attitudes did not significantly change towards math or science. The focus-group interviews indicated that students had a positive experience overall and preferred hands-on activities more than research and reading. The findings have implications for the design of STEM programs guided by project-based learning (PBL) for socioeconomically disadvantaged students and communities.
Institute for STEM Education and Research. P.O. Box 4001, Auburn, AL 36831. Tel: 334-844-3360; Web site: http://www.jstem.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1640228
Author Affiliations: N/A