Culturally Relevant Making and Interest in STEM Careers: High School Learners in an Upward Bound Camp

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:40 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: STEM Identity and Aspirations of Underrepresented Learners in Physical and Virtual Informal Spaces (Table 11)

Abstract

Our project is focused on culturally relevant making and coding. This analysis employs a framework of inclusive educational practices and tools and research on supporting the career interests of adolescents. The study asks two research questions —one about the team’s partnership and a second about the influence of the intervention on youths’ career interests. The subjects include the partners of the projects and nine high school students. Findings include a) changes in the camp partnership were influenced by new routines due to COVID shutdowns and uncertain financial pressures and b) working with near-peer career mentors needed a different structure for engagement with youths. Qualitative and statistical analyses showed the intervention positively influenced the youths’ career aspirations.

Authors

• Heather Toomey Zimmerman, Pennsylvania State University

• Gabriela T. Richard, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Jennifer L. Weible, Central Michigan University

• Yanping Xu, Pennsylvania State University