Gender Effects in Science Small-Group Work: Interest, Engagement, and Productive Group Work

• In Event: Collaboration and Co-Construction in the Classroom

Abstract

Our study asks whether small group work in science has the potential counteracting girls’ decrease in science interest and engagement. More specifically, our study examines development of student interest and engagement when faced with inquiry-based and engineering design activities in a 10th grade biology class and how gender affects the group collaboration of one small group (two females and two males). Results paint a complicated picture of students’ interest and engagement. The type of task seems to affect (i) both interest and engagement of girls and boys but not always in the same way, and (ii) whether students demonstrated gender stereotypical behavior. The latter seem to affect whether students engaged in productive, collaborative group work.

Authors

• Martina Nieswandt, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Elizabeth McEneaney, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• LeeAnn Monteverde, Kings College London