Scientists' Classroom Visits and Middle School Students' Interests in Science Careers

Scientists' Classroom Visits and Middle School Students' Interests in Science Careers

The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the effect of scientists' classroom visits on students' science career interests in rural Texas middle schools. Scientists from the Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health (PEER) program visited 1643 students in 29 rur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NACTA journal Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 45 - 51
Main Authors: Holubec, Bailey, Schmidt, Stephanie, Anderson-Trevino, Monika, Wingenbach, Gary J., Lindner, James R.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Twin Falls National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture 01-03-2007
North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture
Subjects:
Drinking water
Grade 5
High School Students
Information resources
Junior high school students
Language Arts
Middle School Students
Middle school teachers
Middle schools
Outcomes of Education
Parent Participation
Parents
Respiratory system
Science education
Science Teachers
Social Studies
Student Attitudes
Teaching Methods
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Summary:The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the effect of scientists' classroom visits on students' science career interests in rural Texas middle schools. Scientists from the Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health (PEER) program visited 1643 students in 29 rural Texas public schools. PEER scientists presented environmental health science topics that were integrated into regularly scheduled science, mathematics, English, language arts, and social studies lessons. Students' interests in science careers were positive after scientists' classroom visits. Students perceived parents or guardians, teachers, other family members, and friends as influential information sources affecting their interests in science careers. Fifth grade students had significantly more positive interests in science careers than did students in all other grades. A targeted effort is needed to incorporate more scientists' visits in sixth and seventh grade classes to counter students' waning interests in science careers during those years.
ISSN:0149-4910