Enhancing Preservice Teacher Preparation through Formal and Informal Learning Experiences

Promoting STEM Interest in Middle School Girls through Strategic Engagement with College Student Mentors

“…The leaky pipeline is a popular simplified metaphor used to describe the reasons for the observed gender disparity in STEM careers in literature with the "leak" being reported to begin in middle school [1], [9], [10], [12], [15]- [19]. This attrition is primarily due to stereotype threat [20], [21], poor educational structures [22], [23], and incompatible identities [1], [14]. Stereotype threat is defined as a "social psychological threat that arises when one participates in an activity that shares a negative stereotype" [21].…”

“…A lack of programming and support from schools oftentimes leads to the inability of students to develop the necessary identities needed to be successful and persevere in STEM [1], [24]. Generally, schools lack sufficient programming which includes qualified teachers and funding for potential STEM candidates to develop STEM identities [23]. Middle school teachers tend to be insufficiently qualified and found to lack confidence in their abilities to teach STEM subjects [27]- [30].…”