Before Proposing to Change the Equation, We should Know All the Variables

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Before Proposing to Change the Equation, We
should Know All the Variables

• Adam V. Maltese
• March 14, 2012

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Outline

• Introduction
• Degree production in US
• Analysis of longitudinal data
• Student interest data
• Graphical literacy
• Participation in U-grad Research Experiences
• Summary

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Introduction

• Focus of recent National policy initiatives
  (e.g., Educate to Innovate)
• Increasing performance in STEM
• Increasing size of STEM workforce
• Ratio of STEM degrees to Total degrees in
  decline over last 40 yrs

• Bureau of Labor predicts by 2018 there will be 2
  Million job openings in STEM fields as result of
  baby-boomer retirement new jobs

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Bachelors Degrees (1966-2006)
Degrees Awarded
(Source NSF, 2008)
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Changes in degrees over time
You can access these visualizations to create
your own here.
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Changes in degrees over timeBS in Biology
1966-2010
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Changes in degrees over timeChemistry1966-2010
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Changes in degrees over timeBio/Math/CompSci/Eng
nr 1966-2010
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Changes in degrees over time
Biology Math/Stats
Computer Science Engineering
1966
2010
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Analysis of Longitudinal Data
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Previous Findings (based on NELS data)

• Indicators of interest in STEM (e.g., Career
  aspirations, Science will be useful in my future,
  Planned major) positively associated with STEM
  degree
• High School Experiences
• Emphasis on learning facts/rules (-)
• Emphasis on understanding through use of hands-on
  materials in math ()
• Emphasis on further study in science ()
• Frequent use of books to do experiments (-)
• Frequent use of computers in math (-)
• Frequent teacher lectures in science (-)

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Samples

• NELS 4,700 with HS transcripts, completed 20
  college classes 4-yr Inst.
• ELS 6,040 with HS transcripts and indication of
  declared major
• HSTS 37,500 with HS transcripts collected

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Most Common HS Pathways
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Analysis of Switchers

• 60 of ss who indicated interest in STEM career
  in 8th grade ended up with major outside of STEM
  fields
• 20 of ss who indicated interest in Non-STEM
  career ended up with STEM degree
• This group accounted for roughly 80 of total
  number of STEM degrees
• What caused these students to switch??

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MS student interest in science(Maltese Tai,
2011)
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Student interest in STEM jobs
Women ? Medicine Men ? Science
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Impact of standardized testing(Maltese
Hochbein, 2012)

• Used three cohorts of HS students in IN who
  participated in state testing and completed the
  ACT exams (N 4500/yr)
• Tied ACT performance to school performance on
  state tests in English/Math during each students
  Freshman-Junior year
• HLM results showed no positive association
  between school status and student scores

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Graphical literacy(Harsh Maltese, 2012)
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Study Methods

• Streams of data collected to investigate how
  students and scientists interpret and construct
  graphs
• Stream 1 Graph Interpretation
• Web-based survey in which participants were asked
  to read and analyze graphical representations of
  data
• Stream 2 Assessment of cognitive processes
• Eye movement measurements/tracking and think
  aloud recordings
• Stream 3 Graph Construction
• Transformation of provided data into graphical
  representations

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Impact of REUs/UREs(Harsh, Maltese Tai,
2011)(Harsh, Maltese Tai, Forthcoming)
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• What are the indicated benefits of
• participation in UREs?

Total Population
(n3014)
Item
 
Exposure to genuine scientific research 49
Built confidence to conduct research 16
Development of basic lab techniques 15
Maintained interest in science 5
Influenced my decision to explore other areas 4
Application of principles learned in class 4
Exposure to graduate students 4
Exposure to research group/meetings discussions 2
Development of presentation skills 1
Exposure to literature 1
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Gender Differences in Chemistry and Physics UREs

• Male and female participation rates have made
  equivocal percentage-wise gains since the 1940s
• During this period, women in chemistry and
  physics were more likely to participate in these
  programs than their male counterparts.
• Similar benefits reported across genders
• Female participants were more likely to select
  gains associated with self-efficacy and
  maintenance of interest.
• Female participants reported that URE
  participation often played a formative role in
  the pursuit of advanced chemistry and physics
  degrees at a significantly higher rate than male
  participants.

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Planned URE Research

• Multi-site assessment of URE program variables
  that influence short- and long-term outcomes for
  students
• Observational studies on the activities and
  practices of URE participants in the research
  setting
• Design and implementation of a performance based
  measure as a means to assess the development of
  students skills through URE participation

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Synthesis

• Flat growth in STEM degrees (some decline)
• Engaging students early appears to be important,
  seems that many students lose interest in science
  during early teen years
• Focus on standardized testing may not be
  strengthening skills of college bound students
• College students lack graphical literacy skills
  expected by science faculty
• UREs seem to have positive impact, but definition
  of gains unclear

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