Blog 18: 2-Hour Meeting Answer #2

1.  What is your essential question?
What is the best way to get elementary school students to voice an interest in STEM careers?
2.  What is your third answer to your essential question (write your third answer in a complete sentence)?
The best way for elementary school students to voice an interest in STEM careers is through parent involvement and encouragement in the development of interests in STEM.
3.  What are three details to support or justify your third answer (details are examples or facts)?

• According to Dwight Carr, a program coordinator for a STEM outreach program, "People assume that those who go into engineering, science or mathematics do so because they're naturally good at it. In many cases, it's because they were encouraged. We want parents to be encouraged and know to encourage their kids to take a similar route." http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/parentsandthepublic/2012/12/stem_program_attracts_parents_looking_for_guidance.html

• Even though many parents (50%) would like to see their children pursue a STEM career, only 24% are extremely willing to spend extra money helping their children be successful in their math and science classes.
• http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/citizenship/docs/STEMPerceptionsReport.pdf

• "...Parents also have a tremendous influence. Thus the approach of the STEM Education & Leadership Program is to also involve parents in its professional development efforts. Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler (1997) pointed out that within “a range of studies, there has emerged a strong conclusion that parental involvement in child and adolescent education generally benefits children’s learning and school success” (p. 3). This positive impact includes “improved school attendance and behavior, more positive perceptions of classroom and school climate, stronger self-regulatory skills, stronger work orientation, and higher educational aspirations” (Hoover-Dempsey, Walker, Jones, & Reed, 2002, p. 843). For example, in a study investigating the impact of parent involvement on student’s improved academic achievement, 220 parents of elementary students from a largely minority, low-income, but high-performing schools were surveyed. Results indicated that “a link exists between parent involvement in children’s education and the educational outcomes of their children” (Ingram, Wolfe, & Lieberman, 2007, p. 494).
• http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v21n2/merrill.html

4.  What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question?

One of the earliest pieces of research I read, was a chapter of a report by Jon D. Miller and Linda G. Kimmel from Michigan State University. This chapter noted the importance of parental involvement and encouragement, and the effects on children and their continuation into STEM fields and careers.

Miller, Jon D., and Linda G. Kimmel. Pathways to a STEMM Career. Rep. Michigan State University, n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.

5.  What do you plan to study next and why?
I plan to explore this answer further; try and find some more evidence to back it up. I would also like to find more answers similar to this one, to hopefully build up one of my categories.