An Initial Look at Robotics-based Initiatives to Engage Girls in Engineering

Abstract

Over the past 10 years, the use of robotic kits in K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) initiatives as well as undergraduate engineering education has increased significantly. However, a survey of students in grades 9–12 indicated that only 2–3% of women in high school express an intention to study engineering; conversely, 16% of high school men declared that they plan to pursue an engineering degree [1]. In this paper, the authors present an initial review of published literature regarding the use of robotics in schools to identify cases where robotic kits have been used to engage girls in STEM learning and to discuss how robotics has been used or could be used to positively influence outcomes of girls’ knowledge, interests, self-efficacy, and attitudes related to careers in engineering.