Investigating the Impact of an Outreach Intervention on Girls’ STEM Identity Formation

Abstract

Previous research demonstrates that developing a STEM identity is key to students achieving long-term engagement with STEM. This paper reports on a 10-week intervention combining the use of mentors with real-world problem-solving activities with the aim to contribute to girls’ STEM identity formation and improve their interest and participation in STEM. The intervention was delivered in nine schools to 200 girls aged 13-16 in the Hunter region, Australia, with the aid of 31 mentors who supported them as they worked in small groups. All participants were invited to complete post-intervention group interviews [30 interviews, 3-6 per group] to gain insight into their perceptions of the importance of STEM subjects, careers, and skills; and to determine whether our program had any effect on those perceptions. Girls demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of societal influences that impacted their relationship to, and likelihood of pursuing STEM careers, including certain barriers such as gender stereotypes. Girls found the most useful elements of the intervention focused on contextualising how STEM learning could be applied in practice. Incorporating problem-based activities into STEM learning and providing opportunities for girls to see women working in real-life STEM roles emerged as key factors in the development of STEM identities. 

Keywords

STEM education; identity; gender stereotypes

Author Biography

Elena Prieto-Rodriguez

Dr Elena Prieto-Rodriguez is an Associate Professor in Mathematics Education at the University of Newcastle. She holds a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science. From 2005, she has worked extensively in STEM education, including several Australia-wide research projects. She is currently engaged in several projects focused on gender equity and teacher professional development. She is a member of the University of Newcastle Teachers and Teaching Research Centre where she leads the STEM Education Group. 

Kristina Sincock

Dr Kristina Sincock is a research assistant for the HunterWiSE project where she is responsible for managing research and evaluation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a PhD in English Literature. She has been involved in STEM outreach as a volunteer for many years. 

Regina Berretta

Prof Berretta is Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Newcastle, holding degrees in Computational and Applied Mathematics, Master and PhD in Engineering. Her research expertise involves combinatorial optimisation problems in different areas as inventory management, supply chain, production planning, timetabling, and bioinformatics. 

Prof Berretta has been in several leadership positions, including Head of Discipline, Deputy Head of School, and recently Assistant Dean – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Prof Berretta is a co-founder of HunterWISE, a group dedicated to support girls and women in STEM through a school intervention program and a series of networking events.

Karen Blackmore

Karen Blackmore is an Associate Professor in Information Technology at the University of Newcastle. Karen has expertise in the modelling and simulation of complex social and environmental systems. Her research interests cover the use of agent-based models for simulation of socio-spatial interactions, and the use of virtual environments and serious games for learning.  Her research is cross-disciplinary and empirical in nature, and considers the ways that humans engage and interact with technology. She has expertise in the study of affective processing, data mining and analytics, experimental design and physiological measurement, with research considering how best to quantify the complex interactions occurring in digital environments. 

Juanita Todd

Juanita Todd is a Professor in the School of Psychology at UoN, holding a BSc (Hons), Masters of Psychology (Clinical) and PhD in Psychology. Her research expertise involves utilising multiple measures (clinical, neuropsychological, psychophysical, pharmacological and neuroimaging) to explore relationships between experience, ability and brain function. To date her research has been governed by a particular interest in the mental illness schizophrenia but expands to exploring functions pivotal to cognition and perception in general.   

Erica Wanless

Prof. Wanless is Professor of Physical Chemistry in the Faculty of Science at the University of Newcastle. Her research is grounded in fundamental and applied colloid and interface science. Her research expertise involves smart polymer coatings, specific ion effects, particle-stabilised foams and emulsions, and liquid marbles. 

Prof. Wanless has held research leadership roles including Assistant Dean Research Training in her Faculty, panel member for Excellence Research Australia and member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts. 

Prof. Wanless is a co-founder of HunterWISE, a group dedicated to support girls and women in STEM through a school intervention program and a series of networking events. 

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia.  The underlying theme of Sarah’s technical research is information and signal processing technologies encompassing applications in communications systems and in medical systems. She is currently working on projects developing new communications technologies for the Internet of Things. Sarah was awarded the NSW Premiers prize for Excellence in Engineering and Information and Communications Technology. Sarah is a founding member of HunterWiSE, a group dedicated to the support of female STEM professionals, and to engaging female high school students in STEM subjects. 

Anna Giacomini

Professor Anna Giacomini is the Director of the Priority Research Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering (PRCGSE) at The University of Newcastle. Anna has pioneered and established the rock mechanics research at the University of Newcastle applied to civil and mining engineering. The impact that her innovative research makes has been recognised by the 2018 John Booker Medal from the Australian Academy of Science. Anna sits on the editorial board of and is a reviewer for leading international journals in her field, and she serves as an expert assessor for international funding bodies, including the European Union, and the Australian Research Council.