Developing an Assessment Instrument for Outreach Events to Measure Impact on STEM Identity of Middle and High School Students
There is a large body of research literature that uses quantitative and qualitative methods to identify factors affecting attitudes, interest and motivation of k-12 students to engage in and pursue STEM related activities, academic programs and careers [Potvin, 2014]. Furthermore, impact of stand-alone events directed at middle and high school students [Badri, 2016] has been studied for impact on development (or reconsideration) of a students’ STEM identity in the context of their community, school and further STEM career goals. The STEM outreach events such as UMD’s Swenson College of Science and Engineering STEM Discovery Day have the potential to positively influence the STEM identity of middle and high school participants that could potentially lead to those students selecting a STEM degree in college. Through this research, baseline data from SEM Discovery Day can be used to research and create an evaluation instrument that will measure STEM Identity in future SCSE Outreach events.