ERIC Number: EJ1339259
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2692-241X
EISSN: N/A
Impact of a Summer Camp on Elementary Students' Understanding and Awareness of Engineering Careers and Attitudes toward Engineering
Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education, v25 n4 p23-41 2021
Students who develop interest in STEM careers by the eighth grade are more likely to pursue careers in STEM (Tai et al., 2006). Interest development can happen through a variety of sources, including informal learning experiences such as out of school programs and summer camps. This study looks at one such informal STEM experience, an engineering summer camp for elementary students, to explore how this camp impacted their understanding, awareness, and attitudes toward engineering. The study used a pre/post design to determine the impact of the camp with two groups of students in two separate years. The results suggest that students gained an awareness of the types of engineering, a better understanding of the purpose of the work of engineers, and had more positive attitudes about the value of engineering and their own aspirations toward engineering.
Descriptors: Summer Programs, Camps, Elementary School Students, Knowledge Level, Engineering, Career Awareness, Student Attitudes, STEM Education, Outreach Programs
Southwestern University and Texas Christian University. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ICRSME.Consultation@gmail.com; Web site: http://ejrsme.icrsme.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A