Each year, STEM Scale-Up Program evaluation data indicates positive impact in students’ test scores, in interest in STEM subjects and in pursuing STEM careers. Diane Berner, Keokuk Community School District K-3 teacher and talented and gifted program coordinator, observed a significant shift in student attitudes toward computer science and technology after incorporating the STEM Scale-Up Program Robot Investigations with Finch Robot into her curriculum at Hawthorne Elementary School.
Berner administered a before-and-after survey about students’ comfort and interest with technology while incorporating the Finch Robot Scale-up. Her survey showed:
- Increased excitement, happiness and confidence and decreased nervousness about trying new technology
- Confidence with new technology ratings of a 4 or 5 increased from 51 percent to 84 percent
- Interest in computer science and robotics rating of a 4 or 5 increased from 66 percent to 97 percent
“Student responses indicate a significant positive impact from the Finch experience,” said Berner. One of Berner’s students commented, “It was hard, but I did it!”
Nearly 100,000 students and 2,000 educators are impacted by the STEM Scale-Up Program annually. Since 2012, more than one million PreK-12 Iowans have participated in STEM Scale-Up Programming. For more information about the STEM Scale-Up Program, visit www.IowaSTEM.org/scale-up.