Shahaf Rocker Yoel

Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Shahaf Rocker Yoel is an educational researcher whose work centers on STEM education, career development, and the impact of experiential learning programs on young students. Her scholarship is particularly focused on the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Program, an international initiative that combines project-based learning with hands-on robot design to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Rocker Yoel's most influential contribution, cited 34 times, applies Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) to examine how participation in FIRST shapes high school students' self-efficacy, interpersonal skills, and career choices in STEM fields. Her 2020 study (19 citations) broadened this lens by tracing long-term outcomes among program graduates, revealing meaningful connections between early robotics engagement and subsequent professional trajectories. Her more recent work examines the perspectives of FIRST mentors — engineers and experts who guide student teams — exploring how their involvement influences both their own interpersonal development and students' STEM aspirations. Collectively, Rocker Yoel's research offers valuable empirical grounding for educators and policymakers seeking evidence-based strategies to cultivate STEM interest and career readiness in young learners through structured, mentor-driven extracurricular experiences.