Inspiring through videos: Role Models in pSTEM - You can be what you can see

Abstract

CASTeL 9th STEM Education Research Conference (SMEC 2022), Dublin City University, 24-25 June 2022This research utilises videos of 10 female role models, representing a range of age-groups and backgrounds, who have pursued or are working in the pSTEM fields of physics, mathematics, computer science and engineering. Based on the ecological framework of factors influencing girls’ and women’s’ participation in STEM (UNESCO, 2017), the videos showcase the backgrounds and influences of each of the role models and highlight what they enjoy about what they do. In their conversations, the role models also identify challenges they may have faced in their careers, such as being the only woman in the room, and also share advice on overcoming similar issues. The premise of the initiative is based on research demonstrating that female role models in STEM subjects can mitigate negative stereotypes and offer girls an authentic understanding of a career in STEM (McPherson, Banchefsky, & Park, 2018). By SMEC 2022, all 10 videos will have been produced, with accompanying teacher materials that will be freely downloadable for use in schools. In the next phase of the research, we will investigate the impact of utilising these videos in post-primary classrooms on students’ perceptions of and attitudes towards STEM, specifically focusing on the pSTEM subjects. We will also investigate teachers’ attitudes towards pSTEM and evaluate their feedback of the materials in order to further develop these resources. Participating schools (n = 10) will view the videos with a class-group over a number of weeks, utilising the educative materials. Class discussions will be based on areas such as: Growth Mindset, Mathematical Anxiety, Cultural Messages, Sense of Belonging and Unconscious Bias. Data will be generated based on research by (McKinney, Sexton, & Meyerson) and will utilise both quantitative and qualitative data, including surveys, focus-groups and semi-structured interviews. Findings will inform further research based on making STEM more inclusive and contribute to initiatives attempting to lessen the gender gap in pSTEM subjects at post-primary and undergraduate level. The ‘Lightning Talk’ at SMEC will discuss the evolution of the project, the construction of the interviews for the role model videos, selection of the role models, and pilot feedback from teachers and students. Feedback from SMEC attendees will be welcomed and incorporated into the next phase of the research design.Higher Education AuthorityInstitute of Physic