Survey aims to gather data on STEM education in Appalachia
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MORGANTOWN – A West Virginia doctoral research study is investigating how Appalachian elementary school teachers apply science, technology, engineering and math education in their classrooms and ways to promote engagement.
Susie Huggins, administrative assistant for WVU's School of Education Education & Counseling, is pursuing her doctorate in curriculum and instruction and is asking educators 18 years and older to participate in her online survey to better understand the current ways STEM is taught in the region and the ways it is best perceived by students.
Huggins has worked in a variety of nonprofit and after-school programs throughout her career and noticed a common denominator in a lack of excitement around STEM education in elementary schools.
"It seems like if we were more interested in math at a younger age, people would be more successful, and especially with today's job markets, STEM plays a critical role in a bunch of different careers," she said.
The survey takes between 10-15 minutes and asks elementary teachers about their perceptions on STEM education. She said that she hopes the study will bridge a gap as to a lack of background information done in the Appalachian region on early math and science education.
"I feel like if you are somebody that is interested in STEM, you're going to be pro-STEM in the classroom, and if you're not pro-STEM, you may prefer to do other activities," Huggins said. "I just want to look at the percentage to see if we are 50-50, 25-75, 60-40 on liking STEM versus maybe haven’t had a lot of experience in STEM from their own school experiences, and kind of just taking a lot at what we can do with that information and how we can impact education for the future."
She said that from her findings so far, STEM education is more popular in middle and high school through robotics and after-school programs, but she hopes to get students "energized" about STEM from an early age, something she wished she had growing up.
"The school system I came from didn't have a lot of money to do a bunch of different things, and so in the elementary grades, there were some activities, and in middle school, there got to be a little bit more," she said. "I had a fabulous high school chemistry teacher and some really good math teachers, but I think I could have learned more, done more, been more if I'd had more exposure to math at a younger age."
Huggins thanks her mentor, Dr. Jeffrey Carver, associate professor of Science Education and the K-12 STEM Education Initiative Director, for his support through her research.
"He's very proficient in STEM education and very favorable in science," Huggins said. "He mentors me through the process and helps me make good decisions on my research and how I apply the quantitative and qualitative components into the research questions, getting the institutional board permissions to do the research and just helps me understand the data."
The survey has 37 responses so far, and will stay open through at least 50 responses, Huggins said. To participate in the survey, visit wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5thVQwCQMtfAhh4.
Participation is voluntary, and all responses will be kept anonymous.