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Examining the Evolution of Research Self-efficacy in Undergraduate Students in the Natural Hazards Engineering

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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

Cooperative and Experiential Education Division (CEED) Technical Session 2

Tagged Division

Cooperative and Experiential Education Division (CEED)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

9

DOI

10.18260/1-2--47378

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/47378

Download Count

12

Paper Authors

biography

Karina Ivette Vielma University of Texas at San Antonio Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-5452-8888

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Dr. Karina I. Vielma is a first-generation college student and the eldest of five children. She became very resourceful, attributing her skills to growing up in poverty. She obtained a bachelors degree in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a masters degree in Technology in Education from Harvard University, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

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biography

Robin Lynn Nelson University of Texas at San Antonio

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Robin Nelson is a Research Fellow at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She received her PhD from UTSA's Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching with a cognate in Instructional Technology. Her research interests include engineering education, interdisciplinary hazards research, and development of TPACK in pre-service teachers.

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biography

JoAnn Browning P.E. The University of Texas at San Antonio

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Dr. Browning was named Dean and David and Jennifer Spencer Distinguished Chair of the UTSA College of Engineering in August 2014. Previously she was a faculty member at the University of Kansas for 16 years, and served 2 years as Associate Dean of Admini

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Abstract

The Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) - Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides research experiences for a diverse group of college students interested in mitigating the effects of natural hazards. The program engages in targeted recruitment for underrepresented students in engineering including women, first-generation college students, students who may not have research opportunities at their home universities, and members of racial and ethnic minority groups. The program structure and activities are designed to prepare undergraduates for research work with the ultimate goal of retaining students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields as well as preparing them for graduate school. This paper demonstrates an effective hybrid-model (virtual and in-person) research program for undergraduate students across a distributed network with eleven (11) participating research sites across the continental U.S. Through a longitudinal case study, data will be presented as evidence of 100% retention of the NHERI REU alumni in the engineering and STEM fields; enrollment in engineering PhD programs; and diversity measures for participation by gender, first-generation college student status, and race and ethnicity. The NHERI-REU Program also collects qualitative and quantitative data on the progress of students’ preparation of scholarly work including their self-efficacy and confidence levels throughout the program. This paper will include the qualitative data to show how students increased their confidence and levels of self-efficacy as they participated in a ten-week research experiences program. Thematically coded, student quotes will also show the various stages and degrees of experience and confidence in research that students come to the program and how these converge to demonstrate high levels of success in scholarly products as well as increased confidence levels in research.

Vielma, K. I., & Nelson, R. L., & Browning, J. (2024, June), Examining the Evolution of Research Self-efficacy in Undergraduate Students in the Natural Hazards Engineering Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--47378

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