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Board 153: Assessment of K-12 Students’ Microelectronics Understanding and Awareness (Work in Progress)

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Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Pre-College Engineering Education Division (PCEE) Poster Session

Tagged Division

Pre-College Engineering Education Division (PCEE)

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/46714

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Paper Authors

biography

Rachel E. Gehr Purdue University, West Lafayette Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-6011-9279

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Rachel is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow pursuing her PhD in Engineering Education at Purdue University. She has earned a BS in Civil Engineering from LeTourneau University and MS in Environmental Engineering from Purdue. Rachel’s current research focuses on assessment of K-12 and college microelectronics curriculum, but she also has experience in photochemistry, water quality, PFAS remediation, and disinfection.

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biography

Tamara J Moore Purdue University, West Lafayette Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-7956-4479

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Tamara J. Moore, Ph.D., is a Professor in the School of Engineering Education, University Faculty Scholar, and Executive Co-Director of the INSPIRE Institute at Purdue University. Dr. Moore's research is centered on the engineering design-based STEM integration in K-12 and postsecondary classrooms.

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Kerrie A Douglas Purdue University, West Lafayette Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-2693-5272

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Dr. Douglas is an Associate Professor in the Purdue School of Engineering Education. Her research is focused on improving methods of assessment in engineering learning environments and supporting engineering students.

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Abstract

Microelectronic and semiconductor manufacturing is being heavily invested in by the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and China. However, these careers are new to western countries and the majority of jobs are currently dominated by Asia. Many young people in the United States have had little or no opportunity to consider the integral role microelectronics plays in our lives, nor the various career paths related to microelectronics. Therefore, students need a space to learn about the societal impact of microelectronics and consider relevant careers of interest. The purpose of this work is to explore how students conceptualize microelectronics and its’ meaning for engineering and society before and after completing an integrated STEM unit embedded with microelectronics contexts. Curriculum units were implemented in middle and high schools that participated in the project. Changes in students’ understanding of relevant information is measured through pre- and post-assessments that included four open-ended questions related to their understanding of how microelectronics are important for society. The increasing prevalence of microelectronics and semiconductors in everyday life necessitates early exposure to these topics and relevant careers. Implementing integrated STEM curriculum embedded with microelectronics content will increase student awareness and knowledge. This study shows promising preliminary results for an increase in student awareness of and interest in the field of microelectronics and the results for the career interest provided insight into how students thought about microelectronics in the field. This unit will serve as an example for how microelectronics content can be embedded into existing K-12 curriculum as the US continues to invest heavily in this industry.

Gehr, R. E., & Moore, T. J., & Douglas, K. A. (2024, June), Board 153: Assessment of K-12 Students’ Microelectronics Understanding and Awareness (Work in Progress) Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/46714

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