Engagement Through Service: Strengthening Students' Identity Through Volunteering
Location
SU-216
Start Date
28-4-2023 11:20 AM
Department
Engineering
Abstract
This paper studies STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related volunteering activities in collaboration with community partners to assess its impact on STEM identity (the ability to see oneself as a STEM professional) and self-efficacy. Service through volunteering has been shown to be correlated with growth in social behavior and academic aptitude. These activities have the potential to promote an individual’s growth and belonging to the profession. Although found beneficial, there are limited studies that address the impact of STEM volunteering on STEM identity and STEM efficacy (the belief in one’s ability to succeed in STEM). The current research is focused on STEM volunteering as opposed to service learning (service tied to a course curriculum). Our hypothesis is students who are engaged in STEM- related services increase their STEM identity and STEM efficacy and the impact is dependent on the length and recurrence of the service provided. To test these hypotheses, we piloted standalone short-term (days), medium-term (2 weeks), and long-term or continuous (months) STEM-related service projects. Service projects are either internal to ABC College or in collaboration with community organizations. We used pre- and post-belonging surveys and case study interviews to assess the impact of volunteering on STEM identity and self-efficacy. Long-term service projects are in progress and assessment will be performed at the end of the projects. Preliminary results from the short-term and medium-term service projects indicate an increase in STEM efficacy and belongingness to the STEM community. Participants also expressed interest in future volunteering activities. In the future, we will be expanding the research with more community partners. and analysis will compare the impact on STEM identity and self-efficacy from all three terms. Long-term service will also be compared to multiple short-term services to determine if the length of the volunteering activities has a cumulative impact on STEM identity and self- efficacy.
Faculty Sponsor
Doris Espiritu, Wilbur Wright
Engagement Through Service: Strengthening Students' Identity Through Volunteering
SU-216
This paper studies STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related volunteering activities in collaboration with community partners to assess its impact on STEM identity (the ability to see oneself as a STEM professional) and self-efficacy. Service through volunteering has been shown to be correlated with growth in social behavior and academic aptitude. These activities have the potential to promote an individual’s growth and belonging to the profession. Although found beneficial, there are limited studies that address the impact of STEM volunteering on STEM identity and STEM efficacy (the belief in one’s ability to succeed in STEM). The current research is focused on STEM volunteering as opposed to service learning (service tied to a course curriculum). Our hypothesis is students who are engaged in STEM- related services increase their STEM identity and STEM efficacy and the impact is dependent on the length and recurrence of the service provided. To test these hypotheses, we piloted standalone short-term (days), medium-term (2 weeks), and long-term or continuous (months) STEM-related service projects. Service projects are either internal to ABC College or in collaboration with community organizations. We used pre- and post-belonging surveys and case study interviews to assess the impact of volunteering on STEM identity and self-efficacy. Long-term service projects are in progress and assessment will be performed at the end of the projects. Preliminary results from the short-term and medium-term service projects indicate an increase in STEM efficacy and belongingness to the STEM community. Participants also expressed interest in future volunteering activities. In the future, we will be expanding the research with more community partners. and analysis will compare the impact on STEM identity and self-efficacy from all three terms. Long-term service will also be compared to multiple short-term services to determine if the length of the volunteering activities has a cumulative impact on STEM identity and self- efficacy.