TY - JOUR
T1 - Information technology pathways in education
T2 - Interventions with middle school students
AU - Hollman, Angela K.
AU - Hollman, Travis J.
AU - Shimerdla, Frank
AU - Bice, Matthew R.
AU - Adkins, Megan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2019/7
Y1 - 2019/7
N2 - Although there continue to be many efforts to increase STEM interest in the younger audience, shortages in the STEM fields continue to exist. In order to combat this shortage, this study sought to implement supplementary hands-on, problem-based learning into the classroom to positively influence teenagers’ attitudes regarding STEM and IT through an industry outreach partnership. This study was seeking the implications on students’ career readiness skills as well as gauging career interest towards STEM fields. The study also examined STEM and IT from the educator side to see if educators, with no technology endorsements, had the time and ability to correctly implement the activities. These two items have large implications for future supplementary STEM-IT implementations in the classroom from both the student and educator perspectives. In order to fully capture these two diverse viewpoints, 645 students and their educators were surveyed in a pre-posttest format. One of the most noteworthy findings was the students lack of knowledge regarding IT, including what the acronym meant, technical skills needed and career expectations. Educators also reported an increase in knowledge and appreciation of the real-world, hands-on curricular activities. Again, these results indicate significant finds which could have an impact on implementing supplementary STEM-IT curricula in the middle grades.
AB - Although there continue to be many efforts to increase STEM interest in the younger audience, shortages in the STEM fields continue to exist. In order to combat this shortage, this study sought to implement supplementary hands-on, problem-based learning into the classroom to positively influence teenagers’ attitudes regarding STEM and IT through an industry outreach partnership. This study was seeking the implications on students’ career readiness skills as well as gauging career interest towards STEM fields. The study also examined STEM and IT from the educator side to see if educators, with no technology endorsements, had the time and ability to correctly implement the activities. These two items have large implications for future supplementary STEM-IT implementations in the classroom from both the student and educator perspectives. In order to fully capture these two diverse viewpoints, 645 students and their educators were surveyed in a pre-posttest format. One of the most noteworthy findings was the students lack of knowledge regarding IT, including what the acronym meant, technical skills needed and career expectations. Educators also reported an increase in knowledge and appreciation of the real-world, hands-on curricular activities. Again, these results indicate significant finds which could have an impact on implementing supplementary STEM-IT curricula in the middle grades.
KW - Hands-on learning
KW - Information technology
KW - Problem-based learning
KW - STEM
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062490253&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062490253&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.compedu.2019.02.019
DO - 10.1016/j.compedu.2019.02.019
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85062490253
SN - 0360-1315
VL - 135
SP - 49
EP - 60
JO - Computers and Education
JF - Computers and Education
ER -