Improving Recruiting and Retention: A Study of Middle School Students Entering Technology/Engineering Programs Paulina Ciccone Amanda Smith Denny Yee

Outline Project Goal Project Goal Literature Review Literature Review Methodology Methodology Data Analysis Data Analysis Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions and Recommendations Summary Summary Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

Project Goal To improve mathematics interest and skill, especially among females and minorities, at Forest Grove Middle School. To improve mathematics interest and skill, especially among females and minorities, at Forest Grove Middle School.

Forest Grove Middle School 7 th and 8 th grades 7 th and 8 th grades 4 clusters per grade 4 clusters per grade 900 students 900 students Gender ratio ~50/50 Gender ratio ~50/50 48% minority –mainly Hispanic 48% minority –mainly Hispanic

Pre-engineering Program One 8 th grade cluster One 8 th grade cluster Focus on math and science Focus on math and science Offered as school choice Offered as school choice Feeds Doherty High Pre-Engineering Pipeline Feeds Doherty High Pre-Engineering Pipeline

Literature Review Student interest and success Student interest and success Use math in everyday activities Use math in everyday activities Provide role models Provide role models Set expectations and goals Set expectations and goals Encourage Encourage Parental involvement Parental involvement Improve communication Improve communication Offer school programs Offer school programs

Literature Review (Cont’d.) Differences in approach to mathematics Differences in approach to mathematics Gender Gender Socialization-Math is “unfeminine” Socialization-Math is “unfeminine” Different responses to middle school environment Different responses to middle school environment Performance anxiety Performance anxiety Race/ethnicity Race/ethnicity Lack of role models Lack of role models Fear of being alone in advanced classes Fear of being alone in advanced classes Low self-esteem from stereotypes Low self-esteem from stereotypes

Methodology Student surveys Student surveys Parent focus groups and phone surveys Parent focus groups and phone surveys Teacher interviews Teacher interviews Analysis of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) data Analysis of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) data

Methodology (Cont’d) Conducted 419 student surveys Conducted 419 student surveys Total of 24 classes Total of 24 classes 1 at each level from each teacher 1 at each level from each teacher Spoke with 14 parents Spoke with 14 parents 6 engineering (focus group) 6 engineering (focus group) 8 non-engineering (phone survey) 8 non-engineering (phone survey)

Methodology (Cont’d.) Interviewed 8 teachers Interviewed 8 teachers Entire math department Entire math department Discussed methods and attitudes Discussed methods and attitudes Analyzed 2001 MCAS breakdown Analyzed 2001 MCAS breakdown Average scores by gender and ethnicity Average scores by gender and ethnicity Multiple-choice item analysis Multiple-choice item analysis

Data Analysis Student survey - frequency analysis Student survey - frequency analysis Teacher interviews - content analysis for themes Teacher interviews - content analysis for themes MCAS data MCAS data Multiple-choice questions - percentage of students choosing each answer Multiple-choice questions - percentage of students choosing each answer Breakdown - graphed by gender, ethnicity, socio- economic status Breakdown - graphed by gender, ethnicity, socio- economic status Parent focus groups Parent focus groups Discussion transcripts - content analysis for themes Discussion transcripts - content analysis for themes Survey - frequency analysis Survey - frequency analysis

Sample MCAS 2001 Multiple-Choice Questions 2. Which is the best approximation of √72? A.7.2 (31%) B.9.1 (8%) C.8.9 (16%) D.8.5 (42%) D.8.5 (42%) 31. So far this term, Calvin has these scores on quizzes: 81, 86, 96, 93, 84 81, 86, 96, 93, 84 There are two remaining quizzes. What is the lowest mean score he can get on these two quizzes in order to have an overall mean score of 90? A.95 (32%) A.95 (32%) B.89 (21%) C.92 (24%) D.97 (21%)

Conclusions and Recommendations Lack of communication Lack of communication Parent manuals Parent manuals By chapter or grading quarter By chapter or grading quarter Monthly meetings to supplement written guides Monthly meetings to supplement written guides Better and more personal communication Better and more personal communication More promotion of available programs More promotion of available programs Personal notes home Personal notes home

Conclusions and Recommendations Genders differ in attitudes rather than abilities Genders differ in attitudes rather than abilities College mentors College mentors Job-shadowing Job-shadowing Lack of motivation in Level 1 Lack of motivation in Level 1 Peer/honors tutors Peer/honors tutors Homework groups Homework groups

Conclusions and Recommendations Reading comprehension Reading comprehension Math language Math language Vocabulary exercises Vocabulary exercises “ Match the number with the appropriate vocabulary word. “ Match the number with the appropriate vocabulary word. 1 2 / 3 numerator______ denominator______whole number______” Open Response Questions Open Response Questions More word problems in class More word problems in class Encourage students not to leave items blank Encourage students not to leave items blank

Summary Forest Grove Middle School should: Improve communication Improve communication Provide appropriate role models Provide appropriate role models Encourage working together Encourage working together Use vocabulary exercises Use vocabulary exercises

Acknowledgements Principal D. Kelley Principal D. Kelley Mr. R. Krikorian Mr. R. Krikorian Dr. J. Caradonio Dr. J. Caradonio Vice Principal J. O’Malley Vice Principal J. O’Malley Prof. J. McNeill Prof. J. McNeill Prof. E. Loiacono Prof. E. Loiacono Prof. L. Schachterle Prof. L. Schachterle Prof. J. R. Krueger Prof. J. R. Krueger Prof. J. Anderson Prof. J. Anderson Dr. S. Blaisdell Dr. S. Blaisdell Mr. E. Santiago Mr. E. Santiago Staff of Forest Grove Middle School Staff of Forest Grove Middle School

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