Andrea Klein

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2009

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Human Development, Consumer and Family Sciences

Abstract

A declining percentage of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related professionals has led to a national initiative to create more opportunities for youth to be engaged in enriching STEM related educational activities in a effort to spark interest and further study in STEM. One sector of the population not proportionally represented in STEM related professions, educational attainment and related educational research is the Native American population. The objective of this study was to determine if the implementation of robotics curriculum using best educational practices affect attitude towards science among early adolescent Native American students. The results of this study did not reveal a statistically significant change in student attitude towards science according to the SAI II results. However, student and staff comments along with observation support the idea that the robotics intervention did positively change student attitude towards science class. The robotics lessons were effective in engaging students during the class period and minimizing behavioral issues. Although the outcome is imprecise, robotics activities do seem to be an effective tool to engage students, and therefore merit further study particularly with the underserved Native American population.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Robotics -- Study and teaching (Middle school) -- South Dakota Science -- Study and teaching (Middle school) -- South Dakota Indian students -- South Dakota -- Attitudes Science students -- South Dakota -- Attitudes Middle school students -- South Dakota -- Attitudes

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

41

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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