ERIC Number: EJ1380253
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0304-3797
EISSN: EISSN-1469-5898
Available Date: N/A
Maps of Meaning: Journeys of First Year Engineering Students
Kopparla, Mahati; Nguyen, Trang T.; Woltering, Steven
European Journal of Engineering Education, v47 n6 p930-949 2022
Undergraduate STEM retention has been a longstanding concern. Specifically, majors such as engineering have experienced a high dropout rate consistently in the past several decades. This study is aimed at understanding factors contributing to making the engineering major challenging, and individual factors that help first-year engineering students persevere in the major. Eight first-year engineering students participated in the study by completing an illustrated road map sketch of their first-year experiences and a semi-structured interview. All participants considered the engineering major challenging due to the amount of time and effort required to be successful in the courses. Being academically underprepared for first-year courses was a drawback, but only some participants were discouraged by the academic challenges. Most importantly, students' perception of academic and social fit within the major influenced their self-efficacy, help-seeking behaviour, and intent to persist.
Descriptors: College Freshmen, Engineering Education, School Holding Power, Academic Persistence, Student Characteristics, Student Experience, Student Attitudes, Freehand Drawing
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A