Global Journal of Human Social Science, G: Linguistics and Education, Volume 23 Issue 3

Using Hands-on Experiences Including Various Forms of ARTS to Increase Ninth-Grade Female Students’ Interest in STEM – Final Results Hui Fang Huang Su α , Jia Borror σ & Teri Williams ρ Abstract- Due to the ever-growing number of employment opportunities in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields, increasing emphasis is placed on STEM education at all levels. This paper reports on research on increasing STEM interest and awareness in ninth-grade minority female students. Thirty-seven female students from a low socioeconomic background participated in this research study. They attended fifteen hour-long sessions of STEM- infused hands-on workshops presented by university professors in the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences. The workshops took place during school hours, adding to their regular curriculum. The school does not currently have an arts program, although the founder of the school is a music artist. Therefore, the workshops incorporated the arts as the central theme, while the lessons were delivered in biology, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics. The study is motivated by the need to close the achievement gap and improve the representation of women and minorities in STEM fields. Data were collected through surveys, assessments, and interviews and analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. The significance of the study lies in the potential to inspire underserved females to enter the STEM fields. Keywords : high school STEM education, female students, integrating the ARTS, STEM interest, and awareness. I. I NTRODUCTION The researchers, as well as the workshop presenters, are faculty members at a private university located in the state of Florida. The study aimed to include 9th-grade female students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds and expose them to hands-on workshops related to STEM. Further, it is the view of the researchers involved in this study that this population of minority, underserved students will benefit from the infusion of the arts in this project. According to Brouillette (p.58), “Now there is growing recognition that, in STEAM projects, the arts not only play their traditional content area role but also scaffold the teaching of science concepts that students could not otherwise envision.” One challenge educators face introducing new, often unfamiliar STEM concepts is building a personal connection that will have meaning. Through creative, arts-based approaches, this challenge is more likely to impact the imagination and interest of the student. This effort to connect is carefully crafted by the educator, with the emphasis being placed on STEM disciplines. The arts are a paved learning pathway that allows students to invent, problem-solve, create, and make what they are learning tangible. The research location is a public charter school that receives funding from the state. The principal and his leadership team provided the physical space and staffing necessary to support the STEAM workshops. STEAM professionals recruited from Nova Southeastern University delivered art-focused presentations at the weekly meetings. The ninth-grade female students were asked to participate in this research study provided by faculty members from the researchers’ University because they are currently enrolled in an intervention High School. The parents of these underaged children must grant permission to allow their child to participate. These students were chosen based on students having similar academic performance. One group of 25 female students was identified from the school’s advanced science class (biology), with the remaining 12 students participating on a volunteer basis. The biology class has a Florida-certified teacher and two aides. II. M ethod and M aterials The school helped identify all 37 students to participate in this study. These students participated in weekly STEM (STEAM) workshops with a pre-planned © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue III Version I 21 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 G Author: e-mail: shuifang@nova.edu ob and career opportunities in STEM experienced tremendous growth each year. Because of this, industry professionals, politicians, and educators strongly encourage and support students matriculating into degree programs in the STEM field. While the growth in the number of graduates needed to fill the increasing number of opportunities is promising, female and minority students are underrepresented in the STEM fields (National Science & Technology Council, 2018). Many educators believe a lack of interest in the STEM professions begins at an early age. Disenfranchised students need the opportunities afforded to students in more affluent areas of a school district, city, or state (Anderhag et al. , 2016). Research shows a lack of minority female students going into the STEM fields. This is partly due to the need for more awareness of the STEM field. This STEM knowledge and understanding measured at the beginning and end of the research study will be shared after the final analysis. J