Welcome to STEAM-Active project

Which role models are effective for which students? A systematic review and four recommendations for maximizing the effectiveness of role models in STEM

Partners' Institution
DHBW – Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University

Year of publication
2021

Educational stage
Secondary Level, University Level

Journal name
International Journal of STEM education

Thematic Area
Gender Inequality, Students’ Difficulties

Summary
Exposing students to role models is an fairly effective tool for diversifying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM role models' have an positive effect on student motivation. Target is to maximize role models' impact as a tool for diversifying STEM. Key features of the role models are: their perceived competence, their perceived similarity to students, and the perceived attainability of their success.

Think of: which role models are efeective for which student?
Four concrete recommendations for ensuring that STEM role models are motivating for students of all backgrounds are discussed:
• Role models portrayed as being competent and successful
• Role models portrayed as being meaningful similar
• Prioritizing exposure to role model traditionally underrepresented in STEM
• Role models’ success is attainable

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The gained results of using role models would be a possible approach for our project. However, the paper is missing concrete role descriptions and examples, it’s quite abstract.

Point of Strength
Take the final recommendations into account if choosing the role model concept.

DOI
10.1186/s40594-021-00315-x

Keywords
Role models, mindset theory, attribution theory