Observing and Measuring Interest Development Among High School Students in an Out-of-School Robotics Competition

Abstract

Joseph E Michaelis is a Ph.D. student in Educational Psychology in the Learning Sciences area at the University of Wisconsin -Madison. His research involves studying interest in STEM education, focusing on the impact of learning environments, feedback, and influence of social constructs and identities. This research includes developing inclusive learning environments that promote interest in pursuing STEM fields as a career to a broad range of students.Prof. Mitchell Nathan, University of Wisconsin -Madison Mitchell J. Nathan is a professor of learning sciences in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prof. Nathan received his Ph.D. in experimental (cognitive) psychology. He also holds a B.S. in electrical and computer engineering, mathematics and history. He has worked in research and development in artificial intelligence, computer vision and robotic mobility, including: design and development of autonomous robotic arms and vehicles; sensor fusion; the development of expert systems and knowledge engineering interview techniques; and the representation of perceptual and real-world knowledge to support inference-making in dynamic environments. Nathan also has worked on computer-based tutoring environments for mathematics education that rely heavily on students' own comprehension processes for self-evaluation and self-directed learning (so-called unintelligent tutoring systems). Prof. Nathan has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, given more than 120 presentations at professional meetings, and has secured over $25M in research funds to investigate and improve STEM learning, reasoning and instruction. Among his projects, Dr. Nathan directed the IERI-funded STAAR Project, which studied the transition from arithmetic to algebraic reasoning, served as Co-PI for the NSF-funded AWAKEN Project, which documented how people learn and use engineering, and currently co-directs the National Center for Cognition and Mathematics Instruction. He is a faculty member