Yael Bamberger - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Yael Bamberger

Research paper thumbnail of The learning environment of natural history museums: Multiple ways to capture students’ views

Learning Environments Research, May 29, 2009

This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to na... more This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to natural history museums, with regard to the museum's role as a place for intellectual and social experience. The study followed up approximately 500 Grades 6-8 students who visited four museums of different sizes, locations and foci. Data sources included the Museum Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (M-CLES), which was adapted from Constructivist Learning Environment Survey, an open-ended question and semi-structured interviews with 50 students. The three instruments highlighted some differences in students' perceptions of the visit. Opportunities for concrete experiences and cognitive and affective engagement were not covered by the M-CLES, while the nature of science was not discussed by the students in their responses to the open-ended item and the interviews. This suggests that each instrument has its advantages and limitations and, therefore, the three means for data collection enabled a complementary view. Based on our findings, we suggest further development of museum learning environment surveys to capture students' perceptions.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiple Outcomes of Class Visits to Natural History Museums: The Students’ View

Journal of Science Education and Technology, Mar 5, 2008

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class ... more Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class visits to natural history museums. The theoretical framework is based on the multifaceted process of learning in free choice learning environments, and emphasizes the unique ...

Research paper thumbnail of Learning in a personal context: Levels of choice in a free choice learning environment in science and natural history museums

Science Education, 2007

The study aims to characterize contextual learning during class visits to science and natural his... more The study aims to characterize contextual learning during class visits to science and natural history museums. Based on previous studies, we assumed that "outdoor" learning is different from classroom-based learning, and free choice learning in the museums enhances the expression of learning in personal context. We studied about 750 students participating in class visits at four museums, focusing on the levels of choice provided through the activity. The museums were of different sizes, locations, visitor number, and foci. A descriptive-interpretative approach was adopted, with data sources comprising observations, semistructured interviews with students, and museum worksheets. Analysis of the museum activities has yielded four levels of choice that affect learning from no choice to free choice activities. The effectiveness of learning was examined as well by looking at task behavior, linkage to the students' prior knowledge and their school's science curriculum, and linkage to the students' life and experience. Our findings indicate that activities of limited choice offered scaffolding, allowed the students to control their learning, and enhanced deeper engagement in the learning process. Within all the choice opportunities, the students connected the visit to their own life experiences and to their prior knowledge,

Research paper thumbnail of An Experience for the Lifelong Journey: The Long-Term Effect of a Class Visit to a Science Center

Visitor Studies, Oct 20, 2008

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science... more ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science center, and to investigate changes in these outcomes over time. The study is signifi-cant because relatively little research has been conducted on the long-term effects of school museum ...

Research paper thumbnail of Night in the museum

Research paper thumbnail of Levels of choice: a pedagogical tool for teaching in new generation learning spaces

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching Design in Middle-School: Instructors’ Concerns and Scaffolding Strategies

Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2012

This study deals with engineering education in the middle-school level. Its focus is instructors'... more This study deals with engineering education in the middle-school level. Its focus is instructors' concerns in teaching design, as well as scaffolding strategies that can help teachers deal with these concerns. Through participatory action research, nine instructors engaged in a process of development and instruction of a curriculum about energy along with engineering design. A 50-h curriculum was piloted during a summer camp for 38 middle-school students. Data was collected through instructors' materials: observation field notes, daily reflections and post-camp discussions. In addition, students' artifacts and planning graphical models were collected in order to explore how instructors' concerns were aligned with students' learning. Findings indicate three main tensions that reflect instructors' main concerns: how to provide sufficient scaffolding yet encourage creativity, how to scaffold hands-on experiences that promote mindful planning, and how to scaffold students' modeling practices. Pedagogical strategies for teaching design that developed through this work are described, as well as the ways they address the National Research Council (A framework for K-12 science education: practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2011) core ideas of engineering education and the International Technological Literacy standards (ITEA in Standards for technological literacy, 3rd edn. International Technology education Association, Reston, VA, 2007).

Research paper thumbnail of A three year study of guided visitors to four natural history museums: Communicating knowledge, interacting, and learning

National Association for Research in Science …, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of An Experience for the Lifelong Journey: The Long-Term Effect of a Class Visit to a Science Center

Visitor Studies, 2008

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science... more ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science center, and to investigate changes in these outcomes over time. The study is signifi-cant because relatively little research has been conducted on the long-term effects of school museum ...

Research paper thumbnail of Learning in a personal context: Levels of choice in a free choice learning environment in science and natural history museums

Research paper thumbnail of The learning environment of natural history museums: Multiple ways to capture students’ views

Learning Environments Research, 2009

This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to na... more This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to natural history museums, with regard to the museum's role as a place for intellectual and social experience. The study followed up approximately 500 Grades 6-8 students who visited four museums of different sizes, locations and foci. Data sources included the Museum Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (M-CLES), which was adapted from Constructivist Learning Environment Survey, an open-ended question and semi-structured interviews with 50 students. The three instruments highlighted some differences in students' perceptions of the visit. Opportunities for concrete experiences and cognitive and affective engagement were not covered by the M-CLES, while the nature of science was not discussed by the students in their responses to the open-ended item and the interviews. This suggests that each instrument has its advantages and limitations and, therefore, the three means for data collection enabled a complementary view. Based on our findings, we suggest further development of museum learning environment surveys to capture students' perceptions.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiple Outcomes of Class Visits to Natural History Museums: The Students’ View

Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2008

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class ... more Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class visits to natural history museums. The theoretical framework is based on the multifaceted process of learning in free choice learning environments, and emphasizes the unique ...

Research paper thumbnail of Guided school visits to natural history museums in Israel: Teachers' roles

Science Education, 2005

Museums are favorite and respected resources for learning worldwide. In Israel, there are two rel... more Museums are favorite and respected resources for learning worldwide. In Israel, there are two relatively large science centers and a number of small natural history museums that are visited by thousands of students. Unlike other countries, studying museum visits in Israel only emerges in the last few years. The study focused on the roles and perceptions of teachers, who visited four natural history museums with their classes. The study followed previous studies that aimed at understanding the role teachers play in class visits to museums (

Research paper thumbnail of Teacher Belief and Change about Integrating Nanoscale Science and Technology into a Secondary Science Curriculum

The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers‟ perceptions on integrating nanoscal... more The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers‟ perceptions on integrating nanoscale science and technology (NST) ideas into their classrooms. Specifically, we studied barriers that might inhibit them from incorporating nanoscale science and technology ideas into their instruction. Fifteen teachers participated in a workshop, which provided them with instructional materials, resources, and activities on emerging nanoscience topics that could be incorporated into their classes. Surveys were administrated at the beginning and at the end of the workshop, and follow-up interviews were conducted three months later. Our findings detail intrinsic and extrinsic barriers in teachers‟ perceptions to implementation of nanoscale science and technology ideas into instruction. Teachers‟ perceptions shifted over time, likely as a result of participating in the workshop, and in the long term. We conclude with discussing four main themes that emerged from the data: teachers‟ knowledge ...

Research paper thumbnail of Learning science by doing design: How can it work at the middle school level?

The purpose of this study was to investigate how a design-based curriculum that tied scientific c... more The purpose of this study was to investigate how a design-based curriculum that tied scientific concepts of energy to technological design can help students understand concepts of energy transfer and transformation, as well as increase their technological literacy. In addition, our goal was to increase our knowledge of pedagogical strategies that can help facilitate students learn the process of design in the middle-school level. Nine instructors, divided into teams, instructed the curriculum and collected data during a two-week summer science camp for 38 middle-school students from diverse economic and racial backgrounds. Data was collected through instructors' online reflections and group discussions at the end of each day of instruction, as well as students' pre-post tests, online reflections after each design project, and sketches of their designs during planning. Findings indicated significant improvements in students' capability to connect the scientific content knowledge of energy to their design projects, as well as improvement of some technological literacy skills. Pedagogical strategies for implementing design-based instruction in the middle-school level are included.

Research paper thumbnail of A three year study of guided visitors to four natural history museums: Communicating knowledge, interacting, and learning

National Association for Research in Science …, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Nanoscale Science and Technology Ideas into Classrooms

Electronic Journal of Science Education, Jan 26, 2013

The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers" perceptions on integrating nanoscal... more The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers" perceptions on integrating nanoscale science and technology (NST) ideas into their classrooms. Specifically, we studied barriers that might inhibit them from incorporating nanoscale science and technology ideas into their instruction. Fifteen teachers participated in a workshop, which provided them with instructional materials, resources, and activities on emerging nanoscience topics that could be incorporated into their classes. Surveys were administrated at the beginning and at the end of the workshop, and follow-up interviews were conducted three months later. Our findings detail intrinsic and extrinsic barriers in teachers" perceptions to implementation of nanoscale science and technology ideas into instruction. Teachers" perceptions shifted over time, likely as a result of participating in the workshop, and in the long term. We conclude with discussing four main themes that emerged from the data: teachers" knowledge and capability to teach NST; relevance of NST in secondary science; time constraints in the curriculum and to prepare lessons on NST; and teaching materials and resources on NST.

Research paper thumbnail of Bamberger, Y. Encouraging girls into science and technology with feminine role model: Does this work? Journal of Science Education and Technology

This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, te... more This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career in Israel. The program involved school visits to a high-tech company and meeting with role model female scientists. Sixty 9 th grade female students from a Jewish modern-orthodox single-sex secondary school in the same city as the company participated in the study. The control group contained 30 girls from the same classes who did not participate in the program. Data was collected through pre-post questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews. It was analyzed for three main themes: perceptions of scientists and engineers, capability of dealing with STEM, and future career choice. Findings indicated respect toward the women scientists as being smart and creative, but significant negative change on the perceptions of women scientists/engineers, the capability of dealing with STEM, and the STEM career choices. Possible causes for these results are discussed, as well as implications for education.

Research paper thumbnail of Bamberger Feminine role model JOST 2014

This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, te... more This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career in Israel. The program involved school visits to a high-tech company and meeting with role model female scientists. Sixty 9 th grade female students from a Jewish modern-orthodox single-sex secondary school in the same city as the company participated in the study. The control group contained 30 girls from the same classes who did not participate in the program. Data was collected through pre-post questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews. It was analyzed for three main themes: perceptions of scientists and engineers, capability of dealing with STEM, and future career choice. Findings indicated respect toward the women scientists as being smart and creative, but significant negative change on the perceptions of women scientists/engineers, the capability of dealing with STEM, and the STEM career choices. Possible causes for these results are discussed, as well as implications for education.

Research paper thumbnail of Encouraging Girls into Science and Technology with Feminine Role Model: Does This Work?

Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2014

This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, te... more This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career in Israel. The program involved school visits to a high-tech company and meeting with role model female scientists. Sixty 9 th grade female students from a Jewish modern-orthodox single-sex secondary school in the same city as the company participated in the study. The control group contained 30 girls from the same classes who did not participate in the program. Data was collected through pre-post questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews. It was analyzed for three main themes: perceptions of scientists and engineers, capability of dealing with STEM, and future career choice. Findings indicated respect toward the women scientists as being smart and creative, but significant negative change on the perceptions of women scientists/engineers, the capability of dealing with STEM, and the STEM career choices. Possible causes for these results are discussed, as well as implications for education.

Research paper thumbnail of The learning environment of natural history museums: Multiple ways to capture students’ views

Learning Environments Research, May 29, 2009

This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to na... more This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to natural history museums, with regard to the museum's role as a place for intellectual and social experience. The study followed up approximately 500 Grades 6-8 students who visited four museums of different sizes, locations and foci. Data sources included the Museum Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (M-CLES), which was adapted from Constructivist Learning Environment Survey, an open-ended question and semi-structured interviews with 50 students. The three instruments highlighted some differences in students' perceptions of the visit. Opportunities for concrete experiences and cognitive and affective engagement were not covered by the M-CLES, while the nature of science was not discussed by the students in their responses to the open-ended item and the interviews. This suggests that each instrument has its advantages and limitations and, therefore, the three means for data collection enabled a complementary view. Based on our findings, we suggest further development of museum learning environment surveys to capture students' perceptions.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiple Outcomes of Class Visits to Natural History Museums: The Students’ View

Journal of Science Education and Technology, Mar 5, 2008

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class ... more Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class visits to natural history museums. The theoretical framework is based on the multifaceted process of learning in free choice learning environments, and emphasizes the unique ...

Research paper thumbnail of Learning in a personal context: Levels of choice in a free choice learning environment in science and natural history museums

Science Education, 2007

The study aims to characterize contextual learning during class visits to science and natural his... more The study aims to characterize contextual learning during class visits to science and natural history museums. Based on previous studies, we assumed that "outdoor" learning is different from classroom-based learning, and free choice learning in the museums enhances the expression of learning in personal context. We studied about 750 students participating in class visits at four museums, focusing on the levels of choice provided through the activity. The museums were of different sizes, locations, visitor number, and foci. A descriptive-interpretative approach was adopted, with data sources comprising observations, semistructured interviews with students, and museum worksheets. Analysis of the museum activities has yielded four levels of choice that affect learning from no choice to free choice activities. The effectiveness of learning was examined as well by looking at task behavior, linkage to the students' prior knowledge and their school's science curriculum, and linkage to the students' life and experience. Our findings indicate that activities of limited choice offered scaffolding, allowed the students to control their learning, and enhanced deeper engagement in the learning process. Within all the choice opportunities, the students connected the visit to their own life experiences and to their prior knowledge,

Research paper thumbnail of An Experience for the Lifelong Journey: The Long-Term Effect of a Class Visit to a Science Center

Visitor Studies, Oct 20, 2008

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science... more ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science center, and to investigate changes in these outcomes over time. The study is signifi-cant because relatively little research has been conducted on the long-term effects of school museum ...

Research paper thumbnail of Night in the museum

Research paper thumbnail of Levels of choice: a pedagogical tool for teaching in new generation learning spaces

Research paper thumbnail of Teaching Design in Middle-School: Instructors’ Concerns and Scaffolding Strategies

Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2012

This study deals with engineering education in the middle-school level. Its focus is instructors'... more This study deals with engineering education in the middle-school level. Its focus is instructors' concerns in teaching design, as well as scaffolding strategies that can help teachers deal with these concerns. Through participatory action research, nine instructors engaged in a process of development and instruction of a curriculum about energy along with engineering design. A 50-h curriculum was piloted during a summer camp for 38 middle-school students. Data was collected through instructors' materials: observation field notes, daily reflections and post-camp discussions. In addition, students' artifacts and planning graphical models were collected in order to explore how instructors' concerns were aligned with students' learning. Findings indicate three main tensions that reflect instructors' main concerns: how to provide sufficient scaffolding yet encourage creativity, how to scaffold hands-on experiences that promote mindful planning, and how to scaffold students' modeling practices. Pedagogical strategies for teaching design that developed through this work are described, as well as the ways they address the National Research Council (A framework for K-12 science education: practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2011) core ideas of engineering education and the International Technological Literacy standards (ITEA in Standards for technological literacy, 3rd edn. International Technology education Association, Reston, VA, 2007).

Research paper thumbnail of A three year study of guided visitors to four natural history museums: Communicating knowledge, interacting, and learning

National Association for Research in Science …, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of An Experience for the Lifelong Journey: The Long-Term Effect of a Class Visit to a Science Center

Visitor Studies, 2008

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science... more ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to explore the multiple outcomes of a class visit to a science center, and to investigate changes in these outcomes over time. The study is signifi-cant because relatively little research has been conducted on the long-term effects of school museum ...

Research paper thumbnail of Learning in a personal context: Levels of choice in a free choice learning environment in science and natural history museums

Research paper thumbnail of The learning environment of natural history museums: Multiple ways to capture students’ views

Learning Environments Research, 2009

This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to na... more This article describes an initial attempt to find out students' perceptions of class visits to natural history museums, with regard to the museum's role as a place for intellectual and social experience. The study followed up approximately 500 Grades 6-8 students who visited four museums of different sizes, locations and foci. Data sources included the Museum Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (M-CLES), which was adapted from Constructivist Learning Environment Survey, an open-ended question and semi-structured interviews with 50 students. The three instruments highlighted some differences in students' perceptions of the visit. Opportunities for concrete experiences and cognitive and affective engagement were not covered by the M-CLES, while the nature of science was not discussed by the students in their responses to the open-ended item and the interviews. This suggests that each instrument has its advantages and limitations and, therefore, the three means for data collection enabled a complementary view. Based on our findings, we suggest further development of museum learning environment surveys to capture students' perceptions.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiple Outcomes of Class Visits to Natural History Museums: The Students’ View

Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2008

Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class ... more Abstract The purpose of this study was to describe and understand the range of outcomes of class visits to natural history museums. The theoretical framework is based on the multifaceted process of learning in free choice learning environments, and emphasizes the unique ...

Research paper thumbnail of Guided school visits to natural history museums in Israel: Teachers' roles

Science Education, 2005

Museums are favorite and respected resources for learning worldwide. In Israel, there are two rel... more Museums are favorite and respected resources for learning worldwide. In Israel, there are two relatively large science centers and a number of small natural history museums that are visited by thousands of students. Unlike other countries, studying museum visits in Israel only emerges in the last few years. The study focused on the roles and perceptions of teachers, who visited four natural history museums with their classes. The study followed previous studies that aimed at understanding the role teachers play in class visits to museums (

Research paper thumbnail of Teacher Belief and Change about Integrating Nanoscale Science and Technology into a Secondary Science Curriculum

The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers‟ perceptions on integrating nanoscal... more The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers‟ perceptions on integrating nanoscale science and technology (NST) ideas into their classrooms. Specifically, we studied barriers that might inhibit them from incorporating nanoscale science and technology ideas into their instruction. Fifteen teachers participated in a workshop, which provided them with instructional materials, resources, and activities on emerging nanoscience topics that could be incorporated into their classes. Surveys were administrated at the beginning and at the end of the workshop, and follow-up interviews were conducted three months later. Our findings detail intrinsic and extrinsic barriers in teachers‟ perceptions to implementation of nanoscale science and technology ideas into instruction. Teachers‟ perceptions shifted over time, likely as a result of participating in the workshop, and in the long term. We conclude with discussing four main themes that emerged from the data: teachers‟ knowledge ...

Research paper thumbnail of Learning science by doing design: How can it work at the middle school level?

The purpose of this study was to investigate how a design-based curriculum that tied scientific c... more The purpose of this study was to investigate how a design-based curriculum that tied scientific concepts of energy to technological design can help students understand concepts of energy transfer and transformation, as well as increase their technological literacy. In addition, our goal was to increase our knowledge of pedagogical strategies that can help facilitate students learn the process of design in the middle-school level. Nine instructors, divided into teams, instructed the curriculum and collected data during a two-week summer science camp for 38 middle-school students from diverse economic and racial backgrounds. Data was collected through instructors' online reflections and group discussions at the end of each day of instruction, as well as students' pre-post tests, online reflections after each design project, and sketches of their designs during planning. Findings indicated significant improvements in students' capability to connect the scientific content knowledge of energy to their design projects, as well as improvement of some technological literacy skills. Pedagogical strategies for implementing design-based instruction in the middle-school level are included.

Research paper thumbnail of A three year study of guided visitors to four natural history museums: Communicating knowledge, interacting, and learning

National Association for Research in Science …, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Nanoscale Science and Technology Ideas into Classrooms

Electronic Journal of Science Education, Jan 26, 2013

The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers" perceptions on integrating nanoscal... more The purpose of this study was to understand science teachers" perceptions on integrating nanoscale science and technology (NST) ideas into their classrooms. Specifically, we studied barriers that might inhibit them from incorporating nanoscale science and technology ideas into their instruction. Fifteen teachers participated in a workshop, which provided them with instructional materials, resources, and activities on emerging nanoscience topics that could be incorporated into their classes. Surveys were administrated at the beginning and at the end of the workshop, and follow-up interviews were conducted three months later. Our findings detail intrinsic and extrinsic barriers in teachers" perceptions to implementation of nanoscale science and technology ideas into instruction. Teachers" perceptions shifted over time, likely as a result of participating in the workshop, and in the long term. We conclude with discussing four main themes that emerged from the data: teachers" knowledge and capability to teach NST; relevance of NST in secondary science; time constraints in the curriculum and to prepare lessons on NST; and teaching materials and resources on NST.

Research paper thumbnail of Bamberger, Y. Encouraging girls into science and technology with feminine role model: Does this work? Journal of Science Education and Technology

This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, te... more This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career in Israel. The program involved school visits to a high-tech company and meeting with role model female scientists. Sixty 9 th grade female students from a Jewish modern-orthodox single-sex secondary school in the same city as the company participated in the study. The control group contained 30 girls from the same classes who did not participate in the program. Data was collected through pre-post questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews. It was analyzed for three main themes: perceptions of scientists and engineers, capability of dealing with STEM, and future career choice. Findings indicated respect toward the women scientists as being smart and creative, but significant negative change on the perceptions of women scientists/engineers, the capability of dealing with STEM, and the STEM career choices. Possible causes for these results are discussed, as well as implications for education.

Research paper thumbnail of Bamberger Feminine role model JOST 2014

This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, te... more This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career in Israel. The program involved school visits to a high-tech company and meeting with role model female scientists. Sixty 9 th grade female students from a Jewish modern-orthodox single-sex secondary school in the same city as the company participated in the study. The control group contained 30 girls from the same classes who did not participate in the program. Data was collected through pre-post questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews. It was analyzed for three main themes: perceptions of scientists and engineers, capability of dealing with STEM, and future career choice. Findings indicated respect toward the women scientists as being smart and creative, but significant negative change on the perceptions of women scientists/engineers, the capability of dealing with STEM, and the STEM career choices. Possible causes for these results are discussed, as well as implications for education.

Research paper thumbnail of Encouraging Girls into Science and Technology with Feminine Role Model: Does This Work?

Journal of Science Education and Technology, 2014

This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, te... more This study examines the effect of a program that aimed to encourage girls to choose a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career in Israel. The program involved school visits to a high-tech company and meeting with role model female scientists. Sixty 9 th grade female students from a Jewish modern-orthodox single-sex secondary school in the same city as the company participated in the study. The control group contained 30 girls from the same classes who did not participate in the program. Data was collected through pre-post questionnaires, observations, and focus group interviews. It was analyzed for three main themes: perceptions of scientists and engineers, capability of dealing with STEM, and future career choice. Findings indicated respect toward the women scientists as being smart and creative, but significant negative change on the perceptions of women scientists/engineers, the capability of dealing with STEM, and the STEM career choices. Possible causes for these results are discussed, as well as implications for education.