STEM presentation for CEC TED

1. K
Changing the Perception of STEM
Careers for Diverse Middle School Students

2. K
A Partnership between UCF and
Workforce Central Florida

3. K
Participating Central Florida
Public School Districts
• Lake County
• Orange County
• Osceola
County
• Seminole
County
• Sumter District

4. K
Expose underrepresented student
populations to STEM careers.
Make a “real life” connection for students
to mathematics and science courses.
Give students a condensed college
life experience.

5. K
Student Participants
Targeted Population:
• Under-represented minorities and females
Resulting Groups:
• 5 Heterogeneous Camps (male & female)
• 2 Homogenous Camps (one all male, one all female)

6. S
What does the literature say?
United States as a STEM super
power (McNeill et al., 2008)
National Focus (Blickenstaff, 2005;
Griffith, 2010; Museus et al., 2011; Price,
2010)
Underrepresentation of
minorities (Museus et al., 2011)

7. S
DATA

8. S
Methodology
A Qualitative Study
Pre Test
• Survey
• Interviews
• Interventio
STEM CAMP
n
• Survey
• Interview Post Test
s

9. S
Interview Questions
Pre Test
• What is S.T.E.M.?
• What do you think of when you think of Science?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Science?
• What do you think of when you think of Technology?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Technology?
• What do you think of when you think of Engineering?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Engineering?
• What do you think of when you think of Math?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Math?
• Of the jobs that you previously mentioned, do you see yourself
obtaining a position in one of those fields? Why or why not?
• How is STEM useful in our country (the United States) at this time?
• How is STEM useful to you in your daily activities?
• What do you expect to learn from this summer experience?

10. S
Interview Questions
Post Test
• What is S.T.E.M.?
• What do you think of when you think of Science?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Science?
• What do you think of when you think of Technology?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Technology?
• What do you think of when you think of Engineering?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Engineering?
• What do you think of when you think of Math?
• What jobs come to mind when you think of Math?
• Of the jobs that you previously mentioned, do you see yourself
obtaining a position in one of those fields? Why or why not?
• How is STEM useful in our country (the United States) at this time?
• How is STEM useful to you in your daily activities?
• What did you learn about STEM from this experience?
• How has this camp changed how you feel about STEM?

11. S
Outcomes
Effects on Participants
#1 More students interested in STEM
Foundational knowledge was increased after camp
#2
Increase in understanding of the usefulness of STEM
#3
Students began considering STEM careers
#4
#5 Camps resulted in a change in perceptions

12. B
UCF & Industry Partners

13. B
On Campus Activities
Bridge Building
Simulated Classroom
Rocket Building/Launch

14. B
More On Campus Activities
Engineering structures
with playing cards
Training Simulators

15. B
Architecture & Design
• Hands on Learning
• Collaborative Problem Solving
• Real World Issues

16. B
Problem Solving
Egg Drop Activity

17. B
Planning for STEM Camp
Thinking Outside of the Box
 Target a population of students – pick a school or
several
 Budget keeping costs down
 On campus partners
 Meals
 Transportation
 Utilize existing university industry partnerships
 Determine length of camp (our plan 4 days)
 Enhance the college experience
 Highlight the college residential experience
 Include engaging hands on STEM activities

18. B
 What are you going to do to create a
STEM experience at your school?
 Will your preservice teacher be
comfortable with STEM content?
Contact information is located on Wikispaces:
http://experiencestem.wikispaces.com/