Informal Pathways to Engineering

这一工程教育研究项目旨在调查非正式的校外学习活动对学生决定参加工程学位课程的影响。这项研究建立在电视连续剧《设计小队》的成功基础上，这部电视剧吸引了许多中学生。本研究采用问卷调查法和访谈法收集数据，并运用社会认知职业理论对数据进行分析。这个项目的更广泛的意义和重要性将是增加对非正式教育活动如何影响学生在大学专业的选择以及他们最终的职业选择的理解。这项研究特别关注年轻女性，她们在工程学学位课程中的代表性普遍较低。该项目建立在与许多其他青年组织，如美国女童军的牢固伙伴关系的基础上。该项目与NSF的战略目标重叠，即通过培养一支具有新能力和专业知识的工程队伍来改造边境。此外，NSF为社会创新的目标是通过创造对社会有用的结果和研究来实现的，这些成果和研究通过为教育政策和实践提供信息来实现。

This engineering education research project seeks to investigate the effect of informal, out-of-school learning activities on students' decisions to attend engineering degree programs. The study builds on the success of the "Design Squad" TV series that engages many middle-school aged youth. The study uses survey methods as well as interviews to collect data which will be analyzed using social cognitive career theory. The broader significance and importance of this project will be to increase understanding of how informal educational activities influence students' choices in college majors and thus their ultimate career choices. The research focuses specifically on young women who are a group generally under-represented in engineering degree programs. The project builds on strong partnerships with many other youth organizations such as the Girl Scouts of the USA. This project overlaps with NSF's strategic goals of transforming the frontiers through preparation of an engineering workforce with new capabilities and expertise. Additionally NSF's goal of innovating for society is enabled by creating results and research that are useful for society by informing educational policy and practices.