1. The Experiences of Female High School Students and Interest in STEM:
Factors Leading to the Selection of an Engineering or Computer Science Major
Sharon Genoways
March 3, 2017

2. My Background
23+ years of experience teaching STEM to high school women
Bright and Talented students either shy away from or totally disregard the idea of a career in CS or Engineering
But, many are successful and I want to know why

3. Why Should We Care?
While only 4 percent of the nation’s work force is composed of scientists and engineers, this group disproportionately creates jobs for the other 96 percent. (United States Commission on National Security for the 21st Century, 2001)
STEM jobs in the United States have grown more than three times faster than non-STEM jobs, and this pace is not projected to slow through the next decade (Langdon, McKittrick, Beede, Khan, & Doms,2011).
The Department of Commerce noted that women make up 48% of the workforce, but only 24% of the STEM jobs (Milgram, 2011).

4. Purpose
The purpose of this study is to discover what high school experiences have a positive impact in propelling a young woman to pursue a STEM major, specifically a major in the areas of engineering or computer

5. Theoretical Framework

6. Theoretical Framework
Expectancy Value Theory
Expectancy for Success: how confident
Value: How important, useful or enjoyable
Student Achievement + =
Wigfield & Eccles, 2000

7. Why Women Abandon a STEM Career
Review of Literature
Much Research on Why Women Leave
Lack of Encouragement
Lack of Role Models
Not a Helping Career
Feeling Underprepared
Why Women Abandon a STEM Career
Feelings of Isolation
Peer Interest
Unaccustomed to
Receiving Low Grades
Stereotypical
Threat

8. Why Women Persist in a STEM Career
Review of Literature
Less research on why women persist
High School
Preparation
Middle School
Experiences
Peer Support
Why Women Persist in a STEM Career
Qualified Teachers
AP/Dual Enrollment
Mentors
Workshops
Connections with Colleges

9. Research Question
What experiences positively influence a female high school student to pursue a major in engineering or computer science areas?

10. Research Design philosophical stance of phenomenology
Data Collection: Semi Structured Interviews
phenomenon: Individual
Analytic approach: Thematic Analysis
method: phenomenology

11. Population & Sampling
Purposeful Sample: population of interviewees were all from the same Midwest, all-girls, private school

12. Instrumentation 2 3 4 5 6 1 Semi-structured interview method
6 predetermined questions will be used as the research protocol
Some leeway built in to allow for additional thoughts or comments.
Courses 2
Activities 3
Teachers 4
Traits 5
Advice 6
Parents 1

13. Question 1 Summary

14. Question 2 Summary

15. Question 3 Summary

16. Question 4 Summary

17. Question 5 Summary

18. Question 6 Summary

19. Themes

20. Further Research
Study women in other high school that offer more diverse populations in terms of ability, ethinicity and financial background
Interview women who have elected to abandon a STEM career or major regarding their high school experiences
Interview STEM educators who have a positive history of motivating students in STEM to determine best practices

21. Recommendations
Examine scope and sequence to ensure physics is available
Push for high level math
Allow for failure
Allow students to problem solve and think critically
Tasks need to be relevant and meaningful
Network with former students and local universities
Realize that your words are valuable

22. Thank You