Mathstronauts High School Program Needs Assessment

Abstract

Mathstronauts is a non-profit organization that provides experiential science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming and activities to middle school students in Hamilton. Mathstronauts is interested in expanding their programming to include high school students, and the aim of this project was to conduct a needs assessment. The research team conducted an environmental scan of existing STEM programs available to high school students in the Hamilton area as well as surveys with high school students, parents of high school students, and first year STEM professors. Results of this study demonstrate that STEM programming for high school students is needed and of interest to both high school students and parents and identify specific elements of the curriculum that would be useful to include.