Single gender programs: Do they make a difference?

Nicole B. Koppel, Rosa M. Cano, Suzanne B. Heyman, Howard Kimmel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Over the last two decades much work has been done to address the needs of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas and to develop interventions that encourage girls to pursue careers in these areas. A popular solution seems to be "single-gender" education but whether or not the positive results of these programs can be attributed to the single-gender environment is questionable. The Center for Pre-college Programs at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has offered a "girls-only" Women in Engineering and Technology program (FEMME) since 1981. To test the hypothesis that the positive results of FEMME may be due to good educational methodologies, rather than due to the single-gender environment, NJIT developed the Pre-Engineering Program (PrEP). The PrEP and one of the FEMME programs are identical in every way, except for the inclusion of male students in PrEP. This paper summarizes the current research on single-gender education in STEM and the results of our study.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication33rd Annual Frontiers in Education
Subtitle of host publicationEngineering as a Human Endeavor: Partnering Community, Academia, Government, and Industry, FIE 2003 - Conference Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
PagesT4D12-T4D16
ISBN (Electronic)0780379616
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003
Event33rd Annual Frontiers in Education, FIE 2003 - Westminster, United States
Duration: 5 Nov 20038 Nov 2003

Publication series

NameProceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1539-4565

Other

Other33rd Annual Frontiers in Education, FIE 2003
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWestminster
Period5/11/038/11/03

Keywords

  • Attitudes to engineering
  • Co-educational
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Single gender programs
  • Women in engineering

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