Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering

ISSN for PRINT: 1072-8325

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2003, Volume9

Mary Crowe
Department of Biology, Coastal Carolina University, P.O. Box 261954, Conway, SC 29528

The Environmental Institute of the Jump for the Sun II program was designed to change middle school girls’ and teachers’ attitudes about doing science and who does science and to increase interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The institute consisted of an intensive, 2-week summer congress followed by monthly sessions during the academic year. Female-friendly learning environments were created for middle school students and in-service educators, focusing on topics such as life expectancies, solid waste production, transportation gridlock, beach erosion, and biodiversity. In both 1998 and 1999, one group of participants completed the program, which was quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated. The quantitative results showed that the program did not improve girls’ attitudes in any of the major categories under study; however, the posttest results indicated that in-service educators’ attitudes improved significantly in three of the four categories (science experiences, perceptions of science and scientists, and science attitudes). The qualitative results indicated that the program positively affected some of the girls and in-service educators.

DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.v9.i34.70 Download article, 8 pages

Article price - $35.00

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