Fostering Engagement and Career Aspirations: The Impact of Science Role Models on Motivating Students and Increasing STEM Interests

Abstract

This review examines the importance of role models in the classroom to determine students' interests in science and their level of engagement during instruction. To instill lifelong learners who are interested in the world and to provide a variety of career opportunities, I aimed to increase student engagement and interest in science by bringing role models into the classroom. Students were engaged with five role model presentations with authentic activities related to the presenter’s career field. The students were given a Likert-style survey assessing their interest and engagement in science and interest in pursuing a STEM career. The students' engagement was observed during all five presentations and three traditional class lessons. After the presentations, each student completed an exit ticket expressing their interest in the presentation, their engagement, and whether the career or a similar field piqued their interest. After all presentations were complete, some students were interviewed to provide more depth on their experiences. The same Likert-style survey was completed at the end of the treatment for comparison. Qualitative data suggested that having professionals in the classroom had the largest impact on STEM interest and engagement. The students’ interest and engagement piqued with hands-on activities and tangible items. The pre-and post-surveys showed no statistically significant change in engagement, interest in science, or interest in STEM careers.