An article co-authored by Martin Reisslein, Amy Johnson and Matthew DiDonato, has been published in the Global Journal of Engineering Education, and examines how short-term, low-cost strategies can engage students with engineering and affect both stereotypes and future academic choices.
Reisslein is a professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering. At the time of the study, Johnson was an assistant research scientist in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, and DiDonato was a postdoctoral fellow in ASU’s T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics. Johnson is currently a postdoctoral research associate in the College of Technology and Innovation.
The researchers focused on the ability of printed recruitment materials to increase positive engineering perceptions—including the importance of pursuing an engineering career—in elementary school students. They developed two brief engineering-related brochures, one for male students and the other for female students. The brochure for boys provided only pertinent information and the brochure for girls emphasized the students’ role in the engineering community.
