Analyzing the Field Research Project

1. (Space) Both divisions of Project STEEM were held during the summer, and X-TEEMS Academy is currently in the portion of the program in which the individual teams conduct their personal research projects. I could visit one or two of the schools as they gather for a meeting, but most of my research will be from the Project STEEM website, photo and video galleries, some select statistics, and interviews with the students who are/were involved. I could also possibly look into the regular student body and compare them to the students of Project STEEM.
2. (Actors) The research will pertain to students and their academics. I will analyze the statistical data of math and science academia among students in general, students involved in Project STEEM, students not involved, and I could go deeper into the individual subgroups within STEEM itself, such as the students who were previously much less interested in math and science. I could interview them and analyze their personal educational statuses in the style of Brandt’s research.
3. (Activities) The students of Project STEEM engaged in many math and science labs and lectures, as well as several team-based labs and experiments, some of which included a tadpole bio-lab, a hologram lab, and a team-based Lego Mindstorms® Robotics competition.
4. (Acts) In the tadpole bio-lab, the students knocked out tadpoles with anesthesia and then viewed them under microscopes. In the hologram lab, students went into a photographer’s “dark room” and used special glass to catch an image; later, students took the exposed glass to another lab to dip it in chemicals that maintain the image and holographic properties.
5. (Objects) Throughout the various labs, students used many different devices. However, the most used tools were computers and microscopes.
6. (Events) The X-TEEMS Academy will be getting back together sometime in the fall to show their progress on the projects.
7. (Times) The Expo will be sometime in the fall, and it will be a few hours long.
8. (Goals) Project STEEM is based on promoting math and science, as well as education in general. The students attend so that they may learn more and get inspired to achieve.
9. (Feelings) The students involved in Project STEEM are excited to learn and conduct their team experiments. Some of the students are less enthusiastic as first, but grow interested as they participate.

 

1. My main research question is: What is the impact of educational programs on the schools, community, and students involved?
2. I plan to research Project STEEM. I participated in Project STEEM in the summer of ’08 and throughout the ‘08-‘09 school year. It influenced my own education – I learned more about Texas A&M University-Commerce and the Honors College through seminars held during the camp.
3. I have spoken to the director of Project STEEM, Dr. Kerri O’Connor, and gotten permission to use the website and photo galleries. Dr. O’Connor also told me to let her know if I needed any additional information and she would see what she could find for me.
4. I will conduct my research analyzing the photo galleries, interviewing Project STEEM alumni, and investigating statistics for academic success. I have even found an online community for alumni.
5. I have already spoken to the director of Project STEEM, and I plan to post surveys and ask for interviews through the online community for alumni. I also know a few alumni quite well and could ask them for interviews as well.