Impact of Materials Science and Engineering Clubs on Student’s perceptions and aspirations towards STEM

MRS Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (19) ◽  
pp. 1087-1100
Author(s):  
C. Pomales-García ◽  
Z.A. Reyes-Rivera ◽  
J. Mercado-Colón ◽  
A.M. Padovani ◽  
O.M. Suarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Educational Aspirations ◽  
School Level ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Year

AbstractThis research evidences the impact of Materials Science and Engineering Clubs as an outreach effort to expand the education and training required for a competitive Nanotechnology workforce beyond traditional STEM areas. An engineering perception questionnaire was implemented as a pre-test/post-test to track student perceptions and goals throughout the academic year to identify trends amongst gender and school level groups. Findings (107 students) show a perceived increase in student knowledge and interest for different fields of study, based on pre/post-test responses, with differences amongst gender and school level groups (middle school and high school). Also, significant differences in students’ aspirations for higher education degree were found among school level and gender. Results show that over 20% of participants increased their aspirations to higher education degrees and their interests in pursuing STEM degrees at end of the academic year. Specific findings on engineering perceptions and perceived level of knowledge and interest in science, engineering, materials, and nanotechnology as a result of club participation and student’s educational aspirations, expectations and future study plans are discussed along with implications for future STEM education.

School-based Clubs as a Mechanism to Increase Student Interest in Materials Science Engineering and Nanotechnology among Underserved Groups

2011 ◽  
Vol 1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra L. Dika ◽  
Jaquelina E. Alvarez ◽  
Jeannette Santos ◽  
O. Marcelo Suárez
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Parent Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Educational Aspirations ◽  
Education Level ◽  
School Level ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
School Based

ABSTRACTSince 2005, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM) has co-facilitated materials science and engineering (MSE) clubs at low-income middle and high schools in Western Puerto Rico to increase awareness and interest in the areas of materials science, nanotechnology, and engineering. In this article, we describe the club activities and share the results of the 2009 end-of-year assessment regarding knowledge, interest, and educational aspirations in MSE, along with differences based on gender, parent education level, and school level. Overall, participants expressed positive opinions about engineering as a career. While students expressed high interest in pursuing university studies in science and engineering, some differences became apparent based on gender, parent education level, and school level. There were also differences between boys and girls in perceived knowledge gains. The results of this assessment provide promising evidence that school-based MSE clubs may help attract underserved students into the MSE pipeline.

Materials Science And Engineering Education In Estonia

2000 ◽  
Vol 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enn Mellikov ◽  
Priit Kulu ◽  
Andres Öpik
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Strategic Competence ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Postgraduate Studies ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering ◽  
Science And Engineering Education ◽  
The Republic

ABSTRACTThe background of Estonian higher education in materials science and engineering is given and results of the reform of the higher education system in the Republic of Estonia are described. The formation of Centers of Strategic Competence in Materials Science is highlighted as one of the main results of this reform. The activities and results in the field of the development of an internationally recognized science-based curriculum for under- and postgraduate studies are described.

A Partnership Inspiring Interest in MSE Careers: The Center for Research on Interface Structures and Phenomena (CRISP)

2007 ◽  
Vol 1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Caragianis-Broadbridge ◽  
Heather Edgecumbe ◽  
Greg Osenko ◽  
Ann Lehman ◽  
Lisa Alter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
State University ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Outreach Effort ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering ◽  
Interface Structures ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe intent of the CRISP education and outreach effort is to use materials science as a vehicle for enhancing the scientific literacy and knowledge of kindergarten through post-graduate level students. A challenging part of our mission has been inspiring students to take the next step and consider further study (or a career) in the field of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). The CRISP educational programs were developed through a partnership between Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University and the urban school district of New Haven, CT. An overview of the methods and results of both formal and informal educational program components will be presented for years one and two of the CRISP MRSEC. This paper will focus on two CRISP programs: 1) MRSEC Initiative for Multidisciplinary Education & Research (MIMER) and 2) “Exploring Materials Science” mobile kits. The evaluation data indicates that the approach used in developing these educational programs is important. Specifically, the impact of these programs is influenced by the students' ability to relate the acquired knowledge to real life applications and technologies. In particular, emphasizing career opportunities rather than just presenting content-based programs is a key element to increasing interest towards further study in Materials Science and Engineering.

scholarly journals Writing-to-learn in introductory materials science and engineering

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Marks ◽  
H. Lu ◽  
T. Chambers ◽  
S. Finkenstaedt-Quinn ◽  
R. S. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Writing To Learn ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Stress Strain ◽  
Strain Behavior ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering ◽  
The Impact

AbstractWe examine the impact of writing-to-learn (WTL) on promoting conceptual understanding of introductory materials science and engineering, including crystal structures, stress–strain behavior, phase diagrams, and corrosion. We use an analysis of writing products in comparison with pre/post concept-inventory-style assessments. For all topics, statistically significant improvements between draft and revision scores are apparent. For the stress–strain and phase diagram WTL assignments that require synthesis of qualitative data into quantitative formats, while emphasizing microstructure-properties correlations, the highest WTL effect sizes and medium-to-high gains on corresponding assessments are observed. We present these findings and suggest strategies for future WTL design and implementation. Graphic abstract

scholarly journals Developing a materials world: an analysis of UK HE data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora D'Elia ◽  
Alessandro Mottura ◽  
T. Ben Britton ◽  
Han Zhang ◽  
Christopher A. Hamlett
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
Coding System ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
System P ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering ◽  
Education Statistics ◽  
The Uk

Despite being a catalyst for progress, Materials Science and Engineering is relatively unknown as an undergraduate discipline in the UK. By analysing UK data published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions System (UCAS) and the United Kingdom's Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), we explore how applications to study and uptake of Materials Science and Engineering differs from other related disciplines in the United Kingdom. We find Materials Science and Engineering lags significantly behind related disciplines in terms of applications, and this is likely to have ramifications on the diversity of our student population. We also find a significant number of students is likely to join a Materials Science and Engineering programme by an internal transfer process rather than by direct application. Our analysis suggests higher education institutions should ensure Materials Science and Engineering is defined well as a discipline, both in marketing materials and by consistently using the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) coding system.

scholarly journals An Impact Study of the Implementation of a Materials Science and Engineering Module at the Fifth Grade Level

2004 ◽  
Vol 827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Souheil Zekri ◽  
LaNetra Clayton ◽  
Emily Ferguson ◽  
Geoffrey Okogbaa ◽  
Ashok Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Student Performance ◽  
Materials Science ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Material Research ◽  
Impact Study ◽  
School Students ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering

AbstractAn impact study of the implementation of a newly developed Materials Science and Engineering Module was conducted as part of a National Science Foundation funded GK-12 project at the University of South Florida. The objective of GK-12 STARS (Students, Teachers and Resources in the Sciences) program is to foster systemic change in elementary by enriching math and science curricula and encouraging long-term professional development for teachers in the K-5 band. The program also aims to decrease the current educational gap in science and math curricula prevalent among certain schools within the same school district, which is reflected in the outcome of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). The module was developed for the purpose of enhancing existing textbook driven science instruction and creating a fundamentally sound scientific exposure in elementary school students. As part of this activity, students from three different schools (one private, one suburban, and one urban) were introduced to basic concepts in materials science and engineering through hands-on experiments, presentations, and field trips to the university's material research related laboratories (i.e. polymer chemistry, microelectronics, nanotechnology, geotechnics, corrosion, etc.) The developed module offered information ranging from basic definitions to newly discovered cutting edge phenomenon in the field of nanotechnology. Subsequently, pre and post test instruments were administered to assess student performance. Results from the pretest showed that students from all participating schools performed within the standard deviation. The post assessment test showed that the experimental group had twice as many correct answers, as the control group from each school.

Everything you've always wanted to know about what your students think they know but were afraid to ask.

2000 ◽  
Vol 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Werwa
Keyword(s):  
Materials Science ◽  
Science Museum ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Museum Exhibit ◽  
Museum Visitors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering ◽  
Properties Of Materials ◽  
Formal Science ◽  
Lay Public

ABSTRACTA review of the educational literature on naive concepts about principles of chemistry and physics and surveys of science museum visitors reveal that people of all ages have robust alternative notions about the nature of atoms, matter, and bonding that persist despite formal science education experiences. Some confusion arises from the profound differences in the way that scientists and the lay public use terms such as materials, metals, liquids, models, function, matter, and bonding. Many models that eloquently articulate arrangements of atoms and molecules to informed scientists are not widely understood by lay people and may promote naive notions among the public. Shifts from one type of atomic model to another and changes in size scales are particularly confusing to learners. People's abilities to describe and understand the properties of materials are largely based on tangible experiences, and much of what students learn in school does not help them interpret their encounters with materials and phenomena in everyday life. Identification of these challenges will help educators better convey the principles of materials science and engineering to students, and will be particularly beneficial in the design of the Materials MicroWorld traveling museum exhibit.

scholarly journals Metal Nano/Microparticles for Bioapplications

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4543
Author(s):  
Xuan-Hung Pham ◽  
Seung-min Park ◽  
Bong-Hyun Jun
Keyword(s):  
Materials Science ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Micro Particles ◽  
Materials Science And Engineering

Nano/micro particles are considered to be the most valuable and important functional materials in the field of materials science and engineering [...]

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