Empowering Underrepresented High School Students in STEM Through Hands-On Engineering Technology Summer Camps

Abstract

This article addresses the critical issue of the underrepresentation of minority students in STEM fields, particularly engineering and engineering technology. Through the organization of a one-week hands-on engineering technology summer camp, the objective was to expose high school students from minority backgrounds to STEM careers and increase their interest in pursuing these fields. The camp included 15 high school minority students (nine males and six females) from north and central Florida. The curriculum was specifically designed to focus on practical engineering disciplines, including construction, civil, electrical, and electronic engineering subjects. It featured hands-on activities like circuit-building and robotics programming, as well as interactive trivia games to reinforce student learning. Surveys conducted during the camp showed that the students found the hands-on activities and trivia games to be the most beneficial and that they improved their understanding of STEM topics. Results indicated a positive impact on their understanding of different STEM topics, teamwork, and oral presentation skills. Additionally, statistical analyses of pre- and post-survey data revealed a significant increase in the students’ confidence in pursuing STEM careers. These results provide the university with an effective and sustainable approach to recruiting underrepresented minority students to STEM majors. Hands-on engineering technology summer camps are shown to be valuable in attracting minority students, offering them authentic engineering design experiences while also enhancing their collaboration and communication skills.