Using STEM Internships to Recruit and Retain Noyce Scholars in Elementary Education
by Saman Aryana, Jacqueline Leonard, Monica Mitchell, & Marina Lazic
Paper Presented at the American Educational Research Association in San Antonio Texas, April 29, 2017
Abstract: In this paper, second-year results of a five-year National Science Foundation (NSF), Noyce Scholars project are presented. In Year 1, we recruited six interns to work in STEM summer programs as a recruitment tool to attract and retain STEM undergraduates to dual major in elementary education. They worked in a variety of STEM-related educational settings, and three became Noyce scholars. We were able to recruit 10 additional interns in Year 2; three chose to become Noyce scholars. This paper examines the supports and mentoring the scholars received, how the program and internship influenced the scholars’ self-efficacy in science and mathematics, and best practices to build supportive learning communities to retain STEM teacher candidates.
Paper Presented at the American Educational Research Association in San Antonio Texas, April 29, 2017
Abstract: In this paper, second-year results of a five-year National Science Foundation (NSF), Noyce Scholars project are presented. In Year 1, we recruited six interns to work in STEM summer programs as a recruitment tool to attract and retain STEM undergraduates to dual major in elementary education. They worked in a variety of STEM-related educational settings, and three became Noyce scholars. We were able to recruit 10 additional interns in Year 2; three chose to become Noyce scholars. This paper examines the supports and mentoring the scholars received, how the program and internship influenced the scholars’ self-efficacy in science and mathematics, and best practices to build supportive learning communities to retain STEM teacher candidates.