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Conference Paper: High school makerspace experience and the gender gap in STEM identity and career interest
| Title | High school makerspace experience and the gender gap in STEM identity and career interest |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Issue Date | 24-Mar-2025 |
| Abstract | The number of makerspaces worldwide has been doubling approximately every 18 months. Educators are excited about what this expansion may bring to STEM education. Past research focused more on STEM skillset preparation and less on the promise that makerspaces may inspire STEM affinity or even help close the STEM gender gap. This study used a U.S. national sample of 15,725 freshmen college students to study the relationship between high school makerspace experience and college STEM identity and STEM career interests. We found that makerspace experiences were associated with a stronger STEM identity and that they effectively closed the gender gap in STEM identity. However, only those males who often participated in makerspace activities increased their STEM career interest, meaning frequent makerspace participation widens the gender gap in STEM career interests. We offer potential explanations and implications from inside and outside of the makerspace environment. |
| Persistent Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/10722/359638 |
| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor.author | Chen, Chen | - |
| dc.contributor.author | Li, Yuhan | - |
| dc.contributor.author | Sonnert, Gerhard | - |
| dc.contributor.author | Sadler, Philip | - |
| dc.contributor.author | Sunbury, Susan | - |
| dc.contributor.author | Lassiter, Sherry | - |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-09T00:45:40Z | - |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-09T00:45:40Z | - |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-03-24 | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10722/359638 | - |
| dc.description.abstract | <p>The number of makerspaces worldwide has been doubling approximately every 18 months. Educators are excited about what this expansion may bring to STEM education. Past research focused more on STEM skillset preparation and less on the promise that makerspaces may inspire STEM affinity or even help close the STEM gender gap. This study used a U.S. national sample of 15,725 freshmen college students to study the relationship between high school makerspace experience and college STEM identity and STEM career interests. We found that makerspace experiences were associated with a stronger STEM identity and that they effectively closed the gender gap in STEM identity. However, only those males who often participated in makerspace activities increased their STEM career interest, meaning frequent makerspace participation widens the gender gap in STEM career interests. We offer potential explanations and implications from inside and outside of the makerspace environment. <br></p> | - |
| dc.language | eng | - |
| dc.relation.ispartof | 2025 NARST Annual International Conference (23/03/2025-26/03/2025, Washington DC) | - |
| dc.title | High school makerspace experience and the gender gap in STEM identity and career interest | - |
| dc.type | Conference_Paper | - |