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Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei Lab) Research TeamOctober 15, 2014

Research Highlights of Wei Lab STEM-Based Projects

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Minorities in Higher Education

- Statistics Overview -

Percentage Distribution of U. S. Residents in Degree-granting Institutions

Notes: The statistics include both full-time and part- time students in degree-granting postsecondary education institutions for each year. The statistics for Whit/Caucasian was plotted on the secondary (right) axis.Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2014). Digest of Education Statistics, 2013 (NCES 2014-015), Table 306.10.

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Underrepresented Groups in STEM Fields

- Statistics Overview -

Percentage Distribution of Freshmen Intending Science & Engineering Majors

Notes: In 2001 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander was added as a category under Asian American/Asian. The statistics reveal the percentage distribution of freshmen intending science & engineering majors “WITHIN” specific gender/racial group. For example, among female freshmen in 2010, 33 percent intended to major in science & engineering. The intended major could differ with the declared major. Source: Higher Education Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles (2011). Survey of the American Freshman: National Norms, “Special tabulations.”

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Research Agenda Responding to the National Mandate to Diversify the Scientific Workforce

STEM occupations constitute a growing sector of the U.S. economy. People of color still remain as underrepresented in STEM

fields. The projects focused on diversifying the scientific workforce

in the U.S. within the Wei LAB research portfolio.• Alliance for the Advancement of African-American Researchers

in Computing (A4RC)• African American Researchers in Computing Sciences (AARCS)• Attitudes Among African Americans (Black Arizona)• STEM Education SWOT Analysis (M7 SWOT Analysis)• Popularizing Computing in the Mainstream (PC2Main)• Software Design and Development Team and Tournament (SD-

DTT)

- Introduction -

Contents

Alliance for the Advancement ofAfrican-American Researchers in Computing

African American Researchers in Computing Sciences

STEM Education SWOT Analysis

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Attitudes Among African Americans33

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Popularizing Computing in the Mainstream55

Software Design and Development Team and Tournament 66

Contents

Alliance for the Advancement ofAfrican-American Researchers in Computing

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Research Objectives STEM Pipeline for African Americans Attaining Advanced Degrees in Computing Sciences

Increase quantity & quality of African-American students awarded advanced computing degrees by strengthening computing programs at HBCUs.

Institutionalize two-way research and graduate education & teaching partnerships through research collaboration & curriculum outreach.

Increase participation of African American students in com-puter science & computer engineering academic faculty ca-reers.• Targeted Presentations• ADMI-A4RC Conference• A4RC Kickoff Celebration• A4RC Pre-Test and Post Summer REU• A4RC Partner Faculty Qualitative Data

- A4RC -

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Research Highlights Gender

Female students had less intention to choose computing sciences as their careers; less interaction with faculties; more negative views/stereotype and fear in computing sciences.

Socioeconomic Status The effects of the A4RC programs were larger for students

from low-income household.

Computing Related-Extracurricular Activities & Research Experiences

The effects of the A4RC programs were larger for those with extracurricular activity experiences and those without research experiences.

- A4RC -

Contents

African American Researchers in Computing Sciences22

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Research Objectives STEM Pipeline for African American Student-

Faculty in Computing Sciences

Broaden the participation of African Americans at the levels of tenure track faculty & research scientist in computing sciences.

Address barriers/disbeliefs, concerns, & misunderstandings about computing sciences faculty & research.

Increase participation of African American students in com-puter science & computer engineering academic faculty ca-reers.• Targeted Presentations• AARCS Annual Conference• Future Faculty Mentoring Program

- AARCS -

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Research Highlights Impact of Presentation

Successfully change participants’ interests regarding graduate study/career path in computing sciences.

Reduce participants’ negative views/stereotypes towards

computing sciences.

Positively affect the perception of participants as future fac-ulty or researchers in computing sciences.

- AARCS -

Contents

Attitudes Among African Americans33

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Research Objectives Pipeline to STEM Fields for African American

K-12 Students in Arizona K-12 students in public schools in the state of Arizona:

• Scored lower than 44 and 33 states in fourth- and eighth-grade mathematics, respectively.

• Scored lower than 41 and 56 states in fourth- and eighth-grade science respectively.

• More than 70 percent of African American students in each grade have not reached proficiency in these essential math and science courses.

Understand the future of African American representation in Arizona’s scientific workforce by studying the academic achievement of this population in the elementary & secondary school pipelines based on self-efficacy theory using the data sets from the State of Black Arizona STEM Attitudes Survey (SBASAS).

- Black Arizona -

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Research Highlights Gender

Female students were more likely to pursue a STEM-based career, which provides an evidence that there has been a significant increase in the enrollment of African American females in particular STEM majors.

Family Support Individuals who believed their family highly supported their

efforts were more likely to pursue STEM majors and careers. Interest & Belief

individuals who entertained selecting a STEM major & believed their sufficient STEM related-ability were more likely to choose STEM majors and careers.

Societal Perceptions The negative reviews about STEM held by the sample

populations negatively affected individuals’ choice of STEM majors and careers.

- Black Arizona -

Contents

STEM Education SWOT Analysis44

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Research Objectives SWOT Analysis in M7 STEM Portfolio

The seven-county region of southeastern Wisconsin (M7) accounts for 34 percent of the workforce in Wisconsin.

Assess the status of STEM affairs in Wisconsin’s M7 region in an effort to provide an environmental scan of its readiness to be reframed as a STEM corridor.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats (SWOT) analysis:• Boost student participation in STEM at all educational levels in

the M7 region.• Increase STEM participation in order to bolster industry hiring in

the region.• Convince more STEM graduates to remain in the M7 region and

attract STEM professionals on the whole.• Gain a greater understanding of the activities or initiatives that

cement cooperative relationships among STEM organizations.

- M7 SWOT Analysis -

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Research Highlights Strengths

Systematic connections among the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system, Wisconsin Technical College system, other higher education institutions, and industry affiliates in M7 region, which is related with large educational opportunities in STEM for students throughout the pipeline.

Weaknesses Minimal collaboration among STEM organizations with

regard to non-partnership arrangements. Opportunities

Beneficial effects of geographical proximity highlighting key financial opportunities for investment & entrepreneurial growth.

Threats High tax rates and relatively low STEM salaries, & a lack of

racial and ethnic diversity with regard to STEM jobs.

- M7 SWOT Analysis -

Contents

Popularizing Computing in the Mainstream55

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Research Objectives Encouraging Students About the Prospect of a Career in Computing Sciences.

Encourage female and underrepresented minority middle school students to explore careers in computing sciences through the use of storyboards built into computer games.

Create new marketing approaches that engage mainstream audiences for computing.

Recruit and retain underrepresented K-12, undergraduate, & graduate students through the experience of creating & implementing several week-long PC2Main summer institutes.

Extend the notion of storyboard training nationally by developing & making accessible teacher training kits.

- PC2Main -

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Research Highlights PC2Main Program Reaction

Overall, the AR/VR/Simulation module showed the highest ratings in terms of comprehension, effectiveness, & accessibility while the Robotics and Intelligent Agents module displayed the highest ratings in terms of engagement & reward.

The most of lectures were engaging/rewarding, effective, convincing, comprehending, informative, & accessible.

The lectures were found to help participants become more familiar and comfortable with computers and technology & thus to influence their decision to become a computer scientist or technology expert in general.

The lectures more positively affected non-African American female participants living in a single-parent household & those who experienced computing science-related extracurricular activities and those who had family or relatives working in computing sciences.

- PC2Main-

Contents

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Software Design and Development Team and Tournament 66

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Research Objectives Social Network & Community Building of CS

Majors, Coaches, and Faculty. Increase the number of women & minority students entering

computing sciences undergraduate programs. Increase SDDTT students’ level of engagement with

activities related to the field of computing sciences. Provide initiatives to aid in the retention and matriculation

of SDDTT students toward an undergraduate degree. Provide access to and promote participation in a targeted

computing sciences social network for both the SDDTT students and coaches.• Friendly competitions• Coaches’ symposium• Tournament

- SDDTT -

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Research Highlights SDDTT Program Reaction

The majority of participants successfully developed a sense of camaraderie in their preparation and participation in competitions and found to afford practical application of computer science concepts and theories to real-world problems.

Most participants were satisfied with the program but had different concerns across membership, academic status, & demographic groups with respect to time limitation & challenge for solving the assigned programs, which revealed the weakness of homogeneity of the program compositions.

- SDDTT -

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Future Research

People of Color in STEM

Diversity &Inclusion

EqualOpportunities

HeterogeneityIn Program

Design

PracticalApplicationof Theory

- Conclusion -

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Any questions or comments?

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Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei Lab) Research TeamOctober 15, 2014

Research Highlights of Wei Lab STEM-Based Projects