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Improving Recruiting and Retention: A Study of Middle School Students Entering Technology/Engineering Programs

This study aims to improve mathematics interest and skills, particularly among females and minorities, at Forest Grove Middle School. The project explores various strategies such as role models, parental involvement, and school programs to achieve this goal.

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Improving Recruiting and Retention: A Study of Middle School Students Entering Technology/Engineering Programs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  12. Sample MCAS 2001 Multiple-Choice Questions 2. Which is the best approximation of √72? • 7.2 (31%) • 9.1 (8%) • 8.9 (16%) • 8.5 (42%) • So far this term, Calvin has these scores on quizzes: 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? • 95 (32%) • 89 (21%) • 92 (24%) • 97 (21%)

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

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

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

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

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

  18. Any Questions???

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