Middle School STEAM Camp Perspectives and Attitudes Towards STEM
Abstract: As US K12 public school leadership attempt to build a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) academic and career readiness program, it is essential to understand middle school student perspectives and attitudes associated with STEM and STEM related career pathways. Tyler-Wood, Knezek, & Christensen (2010) developed and utilized the STEM Semantics Survey Instrument, which incorporates 25 items to measure the following category scales: science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and career. A research study investigating middle school student attitudes towards STEM during a summer STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) camp employed the STEM Semantic Survey. Research findings indicate an increase in perceptions towards engineering as a result of experiences during STEAM camp. Middle school females participating in the research study indicated stronger dispositions towards science.