Engage Yourself in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math
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7th Annual Dr. Barbara A. Sizemore Summer Conference and Award Ceremony Sizemore Youth Conference Engage Yourself in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, 2016 Evaluative Report Prepared by: Dr. Helga Stokes 2 Executive Summary The 7th Annual Dr. Barbara A. Sizemore Summer Conference and Award Ceremony and the Sizemore Youth Conference were sponsored by a grant from the Heinz Endowments and organized by the Sizemore Program Chair at Duquesne University’s School of Education. Both featured the theme "Engage Yourself in S.T.E.A.M.: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math." This year approximately 200 high school students participated in the half-day long youth conference and explored possibilities for engaging in S.T.E.A.M. The second day, some 250 educators reflected on options for enhancing the teaching and learning environment around S.T.E.A.M. subject matter and related issues of equity, cultural responsiveness, and mental health in educational settings. The evaluation’s purpose is to gauge participants’ perception of the quality of the various sessions and each session’s capacity for generating ideas and strategies around S.T.E.A.M. teaching and learning. Mixed methods were used. Data was gathered through individual session surveys, open-ended general comment fields on the same surveys and, for the youth conference, through additional, brief, on-site interviews with students and post-conference interviews at three participating schools. All conference participants had the opportunity to complete the surveys. Interviewees were randomly sampled at the conference and also through teacher recruitment for the post-conference interviews. All surveys were designed around two major themes, one being diverse aspects of the quality of the session; and the other, applicability of session content to learning, teaching, studies and careers in S.T.E.A.M. fields. The two key events at the youth conference were a panel of high school students speaking on their experience with learning and exploring S.T.E.A.M. fields, and a presentation by Hip Hop artist and activist Jasiri X, a Pittsburgh native. Quantitative and qualitative data show an overwhelmingly positive reception of both presentations. Participants felt that the quality of both was high and that presenters engaged the students and gave information that was useful to their learning and motivation for engaging in S.T.E.A.M. fields. They felt that the conference had an energizing impact on their engagement in their work and lives. 3 Participants stated that, as a result of the conference, they felt more comfortable with S.T.E.A.M. fields and see more opportunities for engagement with S.T.E.A.M. The plenary sessions and workshops for educators were also received very well by a distinct majority of attendees. Participants expressed appreciation for the high quality of all sessions, plenary and workshops alike. They felt that they could take with them ideas applicable to their work. The session content was related to S.T.E.A.M. but also touched on issues of equity and social justice. By and large, participants recognized the interconnectedness of S.T.E.A.M. teaching and learning with the more general issues of equity and social justice. Occasionally suggestions were given for a more explicit focus on S.T.E.A.M. content but it was also felt that the content not directly related to S.T.E.A.M. was very important and merited discussion. The evaluation report gives the detailed tabulated quantitative survey results by session, as well as the thematically sorted comments and interview results. 4 Table of contents Page Introduction 7 Evaluation Procedures and Analysis 8 Evaluation purpose 8 Evaluation design 9 Survey design 9 Interview design 9 Observations 10 Conference promotion 10 Sampling 10 − Sampling for the survey 10 − Sampling for conversational interviews 11 Data analysis 11 Potential Limitations of Evaluation Design and Implementation 12 Evaluation Findings - Sizemore Youth Conference 12 Session notes 13 Youth - surveys and interviews 14 Surveys 14 − Student voices panel, quantitative survey results – students 15 − Jasiri X, quantitative survey results – students 16 − Specific ideas - students 17 Qualitative survey results: survey comments and interviews 18 − Survey comments 18 − Interviews during the conference 19 Post conference interviews with students 21 − Familiarity with the concept of S.T.E.A.M. 21 − Experiences with the learning of S.T.E.A.M. fields 22 − Changes in thinking about involvement in S.T.E.A.M. fields 22 − Needs 23 − Opportunities 23 − Likes 24 − Suggestions 24 Teacher surveys 25 Quantitative Survey results 25 − Student voices panel 25 − Jasiri X 26 − Specific ideas - teachers 27 Qualitative survey results from comments 27 Conclusion 28 5 Evaluation Findings - Sizemore Summer Conference Page Conference promotion 29 Morning plenary speaker: Dr. Louie Rodriguez 30 Quantitative survey results 30 Qualitative survey results 32 Keynote speaker: Dr. Leslie Fenwick 33 Quantitative survey results 34 Qualitative survey results 36 Panel – “A Father's Voice” 37 Quantitative survey results 37 Qualitative survey results 40 Concurrent Workshops - Findings for all workshops 40 Quantitative survey results 40 Qualitative survey results 43 Follow-up Survey for the 2015 conference 44 Recommendations 45 Youth Conference 45 General suggestions 45 Information tables 46 Follow-up interviews 46 Sizemore Summer Conference 46 Promotion 46 Presentations 46 Workshops 46 Appendices Appendix A: Surveys Appendix B: Individual workshop results Appendix C: Conference program 6 Figures Page Figure 1: Youth conference - Student voices panel; student survey 15 Figure 2: Youth conference - Jasiri X; student survey 16 Figure 3: Youth conference - Specific ideas; student survey 17 Figure 4: Youth conference - Student voices panel; teacher survey 25 Figure 5: Youth conference - Jasiri X; teacher survey 26 Figure 6: Youth conference - Specific ideas; teacher survey 27 Figure 7: Summer conference - Dr. Rodriguez – session quality 31 Figure 8: Summer conference - Dr. Rodriguez - specific ideas 32 Figure 9: Summer conference - Dr. Fenwick - session quality 35 Figure 10: Summer conference - Dr. Fenwick - specific ideas 36 Figure 11: Summer conference - “A Father's Voice” panel - session 38 quality Figure 12: Summer conference - “A Father's Voice” panel - specific 39 ideas Figure 13: Summer conference - Concurrent workshops summary - 41 session quality Figure 14: Summer conference - Concurrent workshops summary - 43 specific ideas Figure 15: Summer conference - Follow-up Survey for 2015 44 conference Tables Page Table 1: Survey participation rates 11 Table 2: Conference promotion 29 Table 3: Professional roles - Dr. Rodriguez’ presentation 30 Table 4: Professional roles - Dr. Fenwick’s presentation 34 Table 5: Professional roles - A Father's Voice panel 38 Table 6: Rate of return of surveys per workshop 41 7 Introduction The 7th Annual Dr. Barbara A. Sizemore Summer Conference and the 2nd Annual Sizemore Youth Conference had the theme "Engage Yourself in S.T.E.A.M.: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math." According to the promotional statements on the conference website, This conference is designed to bring together Duquesne University and the Pittsburgh community around issues related to improving education for all students, particularly the education of students in urban schools. − Promoting diverse individuals leading the way in S.T.E.A.M. fields. − Creating possibilities and accessible opportunities for diverse individuals and others in urban schools/communities (Conference webpage1) The conference built on the experience of previous years, including last year’s first youth conference. It connects to the year-round work done by the Sizemore Program Chair and staff. For example, the Sizemore Pipeline Initiative: Tomorrow's Urban Teachers (TUT) directly helps students with career choices and focuses on recruiting high school students from minority/ African American background into the teaching profession. Year-round continuous presence in participating schools brings expertise from Duquesne University faculty and business leaders from the corporate community to schools. Attendance at the 7th Annual Dr. Barbara A. Sizemore Summer Conference and the 2nd Annual Sizemore Youth Conference could then be understood as a culminating event and catalyst for the year-round work by schools, their students and university faculty. These continuous efforts are reflected in a rising youth conference attendance. This year approximately 200 high school students2 participated in the youth conference and explored possibilities for engaging in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, 1 http://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/education/barbara-a-sizemore-urban-education- initiative/sizemore-summer-conference 2 Compare to 150 high school student in 2015 – see Evaluation Report of the 6th Annual Dr. Barbara A. Sizemore Summer Conference and Award Ceremony 8 Engineering, Arts, Math) fields and learned how these fields interconnect and affect their own lives. The second day, about 250 educators, mainly teachers and other educators with diverse roles, reflected on options for enhancing the teaching and learning environment around S.T.E.A.M. subject matter and related issues of equity, cultural responsiveness, and mental health in educational settings. Evaluation Procedures and Analysis Evaluation purpose The evaluation design is informed by the goals of the conference and