Examining Portrayals of STEM in Early Childhood Television Programming

• In Event: 66.018 - Everyday Science

Abstract

Kids watch television. We have evidence that kids from previous generations point to television and other media as being influential in the development of their STEM interests (Authors, 2014). A substantial amount of current television programming for kids involves STEM content. How do these programs present STEM to youth? Do they offer a new vision for what STEM can be and who participates or do they sustain stereotypes? We present the results of an ongoing analysis of television programming targeted at youth to identify the programs that have significant amounts of STEM content across a variety of networks. Our goals is to identify how STEM is portrayed to young children with nascent views of what STEM involves.

Authors

• Adam V. Maltese, Indiana University

• Karen E. Wohlwend, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Amber Simpson, Binghamton University - SUNY

• Jessica Marie McKeown, Indiana University - Bloomington