Education Commons^™

Investigating The Effect Of Community-Based Educational Robotics Programs On Underrepresented Youth, Eric Flaningam, Hanna Keyerleber, Christopher Embry

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Traditional STEM academic programs have a large discrepancy in participation and engagement between low-income and minority students as compared to their peers from other demographics. This underrepresentation is visible beginning in the classroom and carrying through to higher education and the STEM workforce. The Ware Research Group previously studied the STEM learning environments of low-income communities in Lafayette, IN. Study results suggested that traditionally structured classroom environments were not effective in achieving high levels of participation and engagement in STEM material. To address this deficit, the research group is observing how community-centered STEM programs affect participation and engagement from low-income …