[Ceal Craig]

Great topic. Elements of your question have been part of the researchbasis for my dissertation, begun in 2010, hope to finish sometime in early2013, currently being written. Feel free to reach out to me directly at cealcraig@druai.com

To your question, I graduated in mechanical engineering in 1974 from The Ohio State University, one of 698 female bachelors of engineering graduates that year, and one of 66 female MEs in the United States. Times were different then. I was inspired to study engineering after attending a six-week long National Science Foundation program on engineering during the summer between my junior and senior year of high school.

Women earned about 15% of bachelor degree graduates in 1986, that rate climbed steadily until about 2000 where the rate has stagnated at about 20% overall. Some degrees have much higher numbers than others. Over the 30 plus years I worked in high tech, I reached the Director level, ran manufacturing plants,and led program management teams for company’s new product development. My husband and I became involved in FIRST as FRC mentors in late 2002, through 2009. I am a FIRST volunteer and also am involved in organizing CalGames, an off-season event in the Northern CA area. That's my background: now on to the research!

Another point of information: The National Academy of Engineering did a recent study about what appeals to young people and the public about engineering and what doesn’t. This research and the messages that havedeveloped from it can be found at engineeringmessages.org. Great site to explore.Interesting connections to much of what FIRST is about.

Some places for research if you have access to a journal & dissertation database through public library or university library. All below are in APA 6th edition format (chuckling…)

Let me know if you have questions! Happy to help.

FIRST Specific:
(two dissertations & one study commissioned by FIRST)

Hurner, S. M. (2009). Robotics as science (re)form: Exploring power,learning and gender(ed) identity formation in a “community of practice”(Doctoral dissertation0. Available from ProQuest Dissertation Dissertations andTheses database. (UMI No. 3369846)

Hospodor, J. & Hospodor, A. (2007, April). All-girl teams make their presence felt at regional high school robotics competitions. IEEE Spectrum: Inside Technology [Digitalversion]. Available from http://spectrum.ieee.org/

Melchior, A., Cohen, F., Cutter, T., & Leavitt, T. (2005). More than robots: An evaluation of the FIRSTrobotics competition participant and institutional impacts. Retrieved from http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedfiles/who/impact/brandeis_studies/frc_eval_finalrpt.pdf

Welch, A. (2007).The effect ofthe FIRST Robotics Competition on high school students' attitudes towardscience (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Dissertations & Theses(Publication No. AAT 3283939)

Related to your overall topic:

Barker, B.S. & Ansorge. (2007, Spring). Robotics as means to increase achievement scores in an informal learning environment. Journalof Research on Technology in Education, 39(3), 229-243.

Craig, C. D. (2006, April 28). Why companies should want to help you: Engineering enrollments down, globalpressures, ideas [PowerPoint slides]. 2006 FIRST Conference, Atlanta GA.

Eccles, J. (2005, Winter). Studying gender and ethnic differences inparticipation in math, physical science, and information technology. New Directions for Child & AdolescentDevelopment, 2005(110), 7-14. Retrieved February 11, 2009, from AcademicSearch Premier database.

Jacobs, J. E. (2005, Winter). Twenty-five years of research on gender and ethnic differences in math and science career choices: What have we learned? New Directions for Child andAdolescent Development, 110, 85-94. Retrieved on June 21, 2008, fromhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cd.151

Morrison, A. (2006, September). FIRST Vex challenge inspirescreativity, ingenuity, and innovation. TechDirections. Retrieved from http://www.techdirections.com

Singh, K., Allen, K. R., Scheckler, R., & Darlington, L. (2007,December). Women in computer-related majors: A critical synthesis of researchand theory from 1994 to 2005. Review ofEducational Research, 77(4), 500-533. doi: 10.3102/0034654307309919

Vollstedt, A.-M. (2005). Usingrobotics to increase student knowledge and interest in science, technology,engineering, and math. [Master's dissertation]. Retrieved from Dissertations Theses (Publication No.AAT 1429847).

NOTE: this post is a personal one and does not reflect any statement or opinions of WRRF.