PI: Barbara O'Brien
What If Children Experienced Engineering As A Way To Serve Their Communities?
Our research connects formal and informal STEM learning environments to increase children’s long-term motivation, learning, and engagement. Prior research indicates that students—particularly girls and those from underrepresented backgrounds—are more likely to pursue STEM when it is framed around communal goals such as helping others and contributing to society.
Through collaboration with Dr. Laura Doyle in the School of Engineering, our lab applies Ignatian pedagogy to design and study STEM experiences that:
- Create empathy-driven engineering design opportunities that leverage informal learning contexts and emphasize human-centered design and social justice.
- Engage high school and undergraduate students as near-peer mentors and role models
- Bridge formal and informal learning experiences with families and community partners.
If you are interested in working in my lab, please complete this application.