Aerospace Engineering in a High School Setting: Connections to College Major Selection and Career Path

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Forward to the Future: Research and Transformative Critical Content (Table 14)

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative action research study is to explore the impact of AE on student college major selection and future career path based on specific assignments and activities that were designed to support individual student interests and increase collaboration as students connect with content throughout the year. Care drives my teacher researcher focus regarding student voices and perceptions centered through the use of open-ended survey questions in connection with assessment scores. While AE enrollment did not impact college major selection for the majority of seniors some had their interests reinforced or reimagined. AE assignments helped students identify individual interests and there were indications that classroom pedagogy, culture, and engagement fuel student success more than initial student interest.

Author

• Erica Cheva, Florida Atlantic University