Investigating Parental STEM Identity: Expressions of a Home and Facebook Early Childhood Program (Poster 21)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 12:40 p.m.
  In Poster Session: STEM and Digital Tools in Education

Abstract

This case study explored parents’ STEM identity and their role as mentors within the Family STEM Toolkit Program. Sending home STEM activity kits to early childhood students and their families the program leverages social media merging home and Facebook group spaces for engagement. With an interdisciplinary approach, data from four parents were analyzed. Findings indicate that the parents’ mentor role is linked to their expressions of competence and interest, as they use their knowledge to assist children with STEM challenges and foster interest by connecting STEM topics to daily life. Additionally, expressions of recognition of proficiency between parents surfaced on Facebook, and perceptions of similarities in their mentor roles were evidenced by comparing posts showing what others were doing.

Authors

• Valentina Bongiovanni, University of North Florida

• Germán Collazos Guzmán, Universidad de La Sabana

• Daniel Dinsmore, University of North Florida