Six STEM Faculty and an Action Researcher Decide to Collaborate…
A blog post by Catherine Barber
Image provided by the author
If you thought the title of this blog was the opening line of a joke, we would not be surprised! In today’s academic culture of silos and extreme research specialization, it seems almost comical to imagine an interdisciplinary collaboration that merges traditional inquiry with the methods of action research.
However, we suggest that such collaboration is vital for transformative research that can tackle the major problems of the 21st century. If you are curious about what happened when STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educators decided to expand their perspective on scientific inquiry by collaborating with an action researcher, read on.
But First: Why Does STEM Equity Matter? Despite strides in increasing access to STEM education for underrepresented students, both STEM graduates and STEM professionals do not reflect the diversity of the U.S. adult population. Why is this problematic? Inclusion and equity in STEM fields lead not only to increased opportunities for women and people of color but also to a richer and more diverse set of ideas and perspectives in these fields. STEM equity is good for both social and scientific progress.
Enhancing STEM Equity Programs through Action Research. Perhaps one of the reasons why STEM equity programs have not fully realized their diversity goals is because they are constrained by program evaluation approaches that are poorly suited for exploring complex phenomena in higher education. In contrast, our work demonstrates the value of action research in fields where the focus of research has always been generalizability rather than a focus on the unique settings and participants.
Our paper presents a detailed look at the processes and decisions involved in using action research to promote equity in STEM education. We invite you to read our narrative and reflections and to consider the value of our model for your own work.
We invite you to learn more about this experience by reading our article HERE. Free 15-day access is available for this article beginning 31 August.
After you’ve had a chance to read this piece, please share your thoughts, ideas, or experiences with our community in the comments section so we can continue this discussion!
Columbia Embury
www.wright.edu
www.wright.edu
Latest posts by Dusty Columbia Embury (see all)
- Making Public Deliberations Inclusive with Mixed Methods AR - October 26, 2020
- Participatory action research with Aboriginal Elders: Ngulluk Koolunga Ngulluk Koort project - October 12, 2020
- Bringing the relational self to ART: Interview with Dr. Yvonne Skipper - October 1, 2020