Less than 30% of students enrolled in the U.S. are proficient in science or mathematics. The landscape becomes more troubling among students who traditionally are underrepresented in STEM. For instance, in 2015, fourth grade Black students scored on average 24 points lower than their White counterparts, and 35 points lower than their Asian American counterparts. When data are disaggregated further by sex, underrepresented males, Black males in particular, underperform Black girls on fourth grade mathematics assessment. Additionally, underrepresented males who graduate from high school complete fewer math and science courses compared to their White and Asian peers, and are less likely to take ‘gatekeeper’ courses such as Pre-Calculus and Calculus. As a way to help counteract the underrepresentation of underrepresented males in STEM, St. Elmo Brady STEM Academy (SEBA), an afterschool and Saturday program was developed to expose underrepresented fourth and fifth grade boys to unique, hands-on STEM experiences. What distinguishes SEBA from other afterschool STEM programs is the inclusion of the students’ fathers and underrepresented undergraduate student mentors. SEBA seeks to systematically expose students to STEM disciplines, STEM professionals, and STEM students with a strong focus on engineering and science competency and motivation. Informed by an Integrated STEM Framework, the project team seeks to investigate 1) In what ways do the fathers/mentors motivate students to become aware of and interested in STEM careers? 2) To what extent does involvement in SEBA shape the students’ and mentors’ STEM identity? Preliminary data suggest a correlation between the number of mentor contact hours and student STEM identity and a positive value added as a result of father interaction. The success of this program hinges on its ability to bridge the gap between universities and the community. There are plans in place to grow the program by expanding to additional schools.
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Centering Humanity within Ethnographic Research: A Critical Read of Black Boys’ Lived and Everyday Experiences in STEM
Our research collective explores Latine learner’s experiences with mathematics. Therefore, we must consider possible methods to de-settle the white gaze surveilling and erasing Latine learners in K-12 schools, as well as the white ideologies in educational research. In this book review, we discuss KiMi Wilson’s Black Boys’ Lived and Everyday Experiences in STEM (2021) and explore his use of ethnographic research to tell the story of his boys (Carter, Malik, Darius, and Thomas). Wilson highlights how he disrupts the norms of educational ethnography through his research and posits the need to amplify Black voices and experiences in STEM education. He challenges the reader to push against white ideologies and reconsider the deficit narratives surrounding Black boys. By reflecting on Wilson’s work and our own, we consider two points of reflection: Centering humanity and emotionality, and the importance of place. We explore how Wilson addresses these two points through his stories of his boys and how our research collective considers these ideas in our work with Latine learners in mathematics. As educators, educational researchers, and policy makers, we must reflect, acknowledge, and create transformative actions centered around humanity and emotionality, as well as the importance of place, to ensure equitable learning spaces for Black and Latine learners.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2036549
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10504781
- Publisher / Repository:
- JUME
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Urban Mathematics Education
- Volume:
- 16
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2151-2612
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 96 to 106
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.21423/jume-v16i1a476
