Submitted by Janet Schoettle (not verified) on September 20, 2006 - 19:46.
Schools can increase interest and participation in science, math and engineering by sponsoring a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) team. It's been very effective in introducing students to career options and increasing their enrollment in pertinent courses. Highlights from the ASME/FIRST study include the following:
* FIRST participants were nearly twice as likely to major in science or engineering than the comparison students (55% vs. 28%)
* FIRST participants were more than three times as likely to major specifically in engineering (41% vs. 13%) than the comparison students, and they majored in engineering at roughly seven times the average among US college students overall.
* FIRST participants were significantly more likely to aspire to a post-graduate degree -- Master's or higher (77% vs. 63%)
* FIRST participants were more than twice as likely to expect to have a science or technology-related career after college (45% vs. 20%)
* FIRST participants were more than twice as likely to have participated in some form of community service in the past year (71% vs. 30%)
* FIRST participants were significantly more likely to think it was important to "be a leader in their community" (44% vs. 29%)"
FIRST offers real, exciting answers. Here is information on how to start a FIRST Team.
Schools can increase
Submitted by Janet Schoettle (not verified) on September 20, 2006 - 19:46.
Schools can increase interest and participation in science, math and engineering by sponsoring a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) team. It's been very effective in introducing students to career options and increasing their enrollment in pertinent courses. Highlights from the ASME/FIRST study include the following:
* FIRST participants were nearly twice as likely to major in science or engineering than the comparison students (55% vs. 28%)
* FIRST participants were more than three times as likely to major specifically in engineering (41% vs. 13%) than the comparison students, and they majored in engineering at roughly seven times the average among US college students overall.
* FIRST participants were significantly more likely to aspire to a post-graduate degree -- Master's or higher (77% vs. 63%)
* FIRST participants were more than twice as likely to expect to have a science or technology-related career after college (45% vs. 20%)
* FIRST participants were more than twice as likely to have participated in some form of community service in the past year (71% vs. 30%)
* FIRST participants were significantly more likely to think it was important to "be a leader in their community" (44% vs. 29%)"
FIRST offers real, exciting answers. Here is information on how to start a FIRST Team.