Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T14:54:41.203Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluating the Impact of Interaction between Middle School Students and Materials Science and Engineering Researchers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2011

Shannon L. Greco  and
Daniel J. Steinberg
Shannon L. Greco
Affiliation:
PCCM, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A.
Daniel J. Steinberg
Affiliation:
PCCM, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

We, as education outreach providers at a research center, believe research scientists and engineers have much to contribute to science education. Our job is to design programs that allow our faculty and students to share their expertise and their stories to positively impact student learning and attitudes towards STEM fields. Is it possible to show that middle school students’ interaction with scientists and engineers makes a positive difference in only one day? The National Science Foundation funded Princeton Center for Complex Materials (PCCM), in partnership with MRS and NOVA, held a large-scale, one-day event for middle school students on January 27, 2011. This study measures the impact of that engagement on the students’ attitudes, contributing to their general attitude towards science and scientists that will ultimately determine their career choices later in life. Among other methods, focus group interviews and pre- and post-event attitude surveys were conducted and analyzed to evaluate the impact of the program.

Keywords

educationgovernment interactionsgovernment policy and funding
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1364: Symposium SS – Forum on Materials Education and Evaluation—K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Informal , 2011 , mrss11-1364-ss04-08
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Bolstad, R., & Hipkins, R. (2008). Seeing Yourself in Science; The Importance of the Middle School Years. Report Prepared for the Royal Society of New Zealand.Google Scholar
2. Dusenbery, P.B., Morrow, C.A. (2004). Workshops for Scientists and Engineers on Education and Public Outreach, Space COSPAR. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from http://www.spacescience.org/education/extra/resources_scientists_cd/.Google Scholar
3. European Commission. (2004). Europe needs More Scientists: Report by the High Level Group on Increasing Human Resources for Science and Technology. Brussels: European Commission, from http://ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2004/sciprof/pdf/final_en.pdf.Google Scholar
4. Fraser, B. J. (1981). Test of Science-Related Attitudes Handbook. Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia: Australian Council for Educational Research.Google Scholar
5. National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine. (2004). Engaging Schools: Fostering High School Students’ Motivation to Learn. Committee on Increasing High School Students’ Engagement and Motivation to Learn. Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.Google Scholar
6. Osborne, J.F. (2009). Attitudes Towards Science: An Update. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
7. Public School Review. (2010). New Jersey Public Schools. Retrieved from http://www.publicschoolreview.com/public_schools/stateid/NJ Google Scholar
8. Reid, N. (2006). Thoughts on Attitude Measurement. Research in Science & Technological Education, 24(1), 3–27.Google Scholar
9. Rutherford, F. J., & Ahlgren, A. (1989). Project 2061: Science for all Americans. Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science.Google Scholar
10. Steinberg, D.J., Greco, S.L., & Carroll, K. (2010). Innovative Evaluation of Two Materials Science Education Enrichment Programs. Mater. Res. Soc. Symp., 1233. pp. 07–01.Google Scholar
11. Tytler, R., Osborne, J. F., Williams, G., Tytler, K., & Cripps Clark, J. (2008). Opening up pathways: Engagement in STEM across the primary-secondary school transition. A review of the literature concerning supports and barriers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics engagement at primary-secondary transition. Canberra: Commissioned by the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.Google Scholar
12. Wolf, S.J. & Fraser, B.J. (2008). Learning Environment, Attitudes and Achievement among Middle-school Science Students Using Inquiry-based Laboratory Activities. Res. Sci. Educ., 38:321–341.Google Scholar