In response to the need to broaden participation in computer science, we designed a summer camp to teach middle-school-aged youth to code apps with MIT App Inventor. For the past four summers, we have observed significant gains in youth's interest and self-efficacy in computer science, after attending our camps. The majority of these youth,…

There is a disparity in the number of adults from minority populations employed in STEM careers. In order to increase the interest of at-risk high school students in the STEM field in Queens, NY, an immersive summer biotechnology boot camp was developed. Fifty-five predominantly minority and female students completed the summer boot camp over a…

The dearth of women choosing information technology (IT) careers has been identified as a national problem in the United States. Efforts have been made to combat this by educating girls at a young age about technology. Recent research demonstrates that exposure to technology is insufficient to change young girls' attitudes towards IT careers and…

This article describes summer programs that allow high school students to participate in an "authentic scientific research experience" (ASRE). These summer programs are specifically designed to embed students in working laboratories and research groups. Summer ASRE programs for secondary learners range in length from a couple of weeks to…

The authors empirically examine the effectiveness of an intervention program designed to facilitate interest in cyber science among high school students (N = 60). Pretest-posttest and mediation designs were used to model self-report data that were collected at pre-camp, during a cyber-related task at mid-camp, and at post-camp. An analysis of…

Total enrollments (undergraduate and graduate) in languages other than English dropped by 9.2% between fall 2013 and fall 2016, as reported in the Modern Language Association's twenty-fifth language enrollment census. Despite the overall drop, there were gains in nearly half of all language programs (45.5%) that mitigate somewhat the downward…

Recruiting and retaining Appalachian engineering students is difficult for a variety of ecological and cultural reasons. At West Virginia University an NSF STEP grant has allowed the development of specific interventions to evolve from an ecological model we describe here. The interventions include web-based, realistic engineering design exercises…

The iQUEST (investigations for Quality Understanding and Engagement for Students and Teachers) project is designed to promote student interest and attitudes toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The project targets seventh- and eighth-grade science classrooms that serve high percentages of Hispanic students.…

We report on an outcomes assessment of the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Using follow-up survey data and academic transcripts, we gauge SURE's impact on levels of interest in, preparedness for, and actual pursuit of graduate study and professional careers in the sciences for the…

Workshop examines school-age summer programs. Papers are (1) "No More Homework" (Linda Sisson), presenting National School-Age Child Care Alliance standards relevant to planning and evaluating summer programs; (2) "Staffing for Summer Programs" (Richard T. Scofield); (3) "Opportunities and Challenges" (Karen…

Discusses the conduct of summer career guidance programs for high school students under the sponsorship of the Junior Engineering Technical Society. Indicates that follow-up studies appear needed to better determine the program value. Included is a table of 1973 programs. (CC)

The Minority High School Student Research Apprentice Program in Richmond, Virginia, aspires to stimulate among minority high school students an interest in pursuing careers in biomedical research and the health professions. Students are paid hourly wages commensurate with what they could earn at summer jobs. Students work with faculty mentors in…

Describes an elementary school summer program designed to allow children to develop their fullest potentials for logical thinking and structuring their own knowledge. In particular, the activities of the science center are discussed. (JR)