Engaging Underrepresented Students in Engineering through Targeted and Thematic Summer Camp Content (Work in Progress, Diversity)

摘要

The Soaring High in Engineering (SHE) camp at the University of Arkansas was designed to integrate recent advances in engineering education research with a novel camp format to create a weeklong engineering immersion experience for female students who recently completed 7th and 8th grades. In developing this camp, we considered the interests of the student participants, the strengths of the undergraduate students who assisted in content creation and facilitation, and recent research on engaging women and other underrepresented students in engineering to provide participants with the most meaningful, enjoyable camp experience. We also assessed whether the camp outcomes, including interest in engineering or other STEM careers, were increased by developing the camp with self-reported student interests in mind and developing camp content around a single accessible, real world theme.