03/14/2022
By Lizzie Casanave

The School of Education invites you to attend an Ed.D. Dissertation Defense by William Goldsworthy on “The Effects of Engagement with Technology and Engineering on Middle School Student’s Motivation to Pursue a Technical STEM Pathway.”

Date: March 28, 2022
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: This will be a virtual dissertation defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact Michelle_ScribnerMaclean@uml.edu to request access to the Zoom link.

Dissertation Chair: Michelle Scribner-Maclean, Ed.D., Clinical Professor, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Dissertation Committee:

  • Anita Greenwood, Ed.D., Dean Emerita, School of Education, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Tara Goodhue, Ed.D. Scholar in Practice, School of Education, Environmental Science Instructor, Greater Lowell Technical High School, Massachusetts

Abstract:

Nationwide female students are participating significantly less in technology/engineering programs and career pathways although there is a tremendous positive outlook for career opportunities in technology and engineering. There exists a sizable gap between male and female participants in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs at the high school and college level despite many initiatives taken to address this gap. Although there have been numerous studies to understand why females continue to be underrepresented, the gap persists. Furthermore, the gap in gender participation is even greater for specific technology focused areas such as computer science and engineering.

This study examined the factors influencing middle school female engagement with a technology and engineering program at a career and technology center and what interventions would increase female students’ enrollment and participation in technology and engineering activities, programs, and career pathways. In order to increase the amount of time female students engage with technology and engineering productively, two areas of focus were examined. The first was how female students engage with technology and engineering content and the second was how to promote an increased awareness of career pathways for females in technical STEM fields.