Skip to main content
Log in

STEMming the Flow: Supporting Females in STEM

  • Published:
International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An e-mentoring program was established to support females who were studying or intending to study or work in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths related disciplines (STEM) and were located in regional, rural or remote areas. Mentors and mentees were matched based on their shared interests, fields of study and area of employment. The mentoring program aimed to support mentees’ career development and smoother transitions from study into the workforce by providing an opportunity to develop knowledge and networks necessary to achieve their career goals. Data were collected through pre and post online surveys and semi-structured interviews. This paper describes the experiences of e-mentoring for participants located in rural and remote locations and shares implications for implementation of e-mentoring and suggestions for improvement for future e-mentoring projects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Australian Council of Learned Academies (2013). STEM: Country comparisons. Retrieved on March 13, 2018 from https://acola.org.au/wp/PDF/SAF02Consultants/SAF02_STEM_%20FINAL.pdf.

  • Azhar, S. & Griffin, M. (2014). Women in construction: Successes, challenges and opportunities – A USACE case study. Paper presented at the 50th ASC Annual International Conference, Washington, DC. Retrieved on February 28, 2018 from http://ascpro0.ascweb.org/archives/cd/2014/paper/CPRT249002014.pdf.

  • Barton, A. C. & Brickhouse, N. (2006). Engaging girls in science. In C. Skelton, B. Francis, & L. Smulyan (Eds.), The Sage handbook of gender and education (pp. 211–235). London, England: SAGE.

    Google Scholar 

  • BBC (2012). Guides claim lack of female role models ‘could be damaging’. Retrieved on April 2, 2018 from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-18033198.

  • Bell, P., Lewenstein, B., Shouse, A. W. & Feder, M. A. (Eds.). (2009). Learning science in informal environments: People, places, and pursuits. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blickenstaff, J. C. (2005). Women and science careers: Leaky pipeline or gender filter? Gender and Education, 17(4), 369–386. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540250500145072.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cacace, M. (2009). Guidelines for gender equality programme in science PRAGES. Retrieved on December 16, 2016 from http://www.retepariopportunita.it/Rete_Pari_Opportunita/UserFiles/Progetti/prages/pragesguidelines.pdf.

  • Ceci, S. J., Williams, W. M. & Barnett, S. M. (2009). Women’s underrepresentation in science: Sociocultural and biological considerations. Psychological Bulletin, 135(2), 218–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chao, G. T. (2009). Formal mentoring: Lessons learned from past practice. American Psychological Association, 40(3), 314–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clayton, K. (2007). The influence of metropolitan Brisbane middle-school ICT experiences on girls’ ICT study and career choices (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.

  • Coger, R. N., Cuny, J., Klawe, M., McGann, M. & Purcell, K. D. (2012). Why STEM fields still don’t draw more women. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 59(10), B24–B27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, I. T. (1997). Sampling in qualitative research. Purposeful and theoretical sampling; merging or clear boundaries? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(3), 623–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronin, C. & Roger, A. (1999). Theorizing progress: Women in science, engineering, and technology in higher education. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36(6), 637–661. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-2736(199908)36:6<637::AID-TEA4>3.0.CO;2-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, D. D., Drummond, A., Halsey, J. & Lawson, M. J. (2012). Peer-mentoring of students in rural and low-socioeconomic status schools: Increasing aspirations for higher education. Adelaide, Australia: NCVER. Retrieved on March 13, 2018 from ERIC database (ED540880): http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED540880.pdf.

  • Dawson, A., Bernstein, B. & Bekki, J. (2015). Providing the psychosocial benefits of mentoring to women in STEM: CareerWISE as an online solution. New Directions for Higher Education, 2015(171), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/he.20142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. S. & Giardina, M. D. (2006). Disciplining qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 19(6), 769–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dresselhaus, M., Franz, J. & Clark, B. (1995). Update on the chilly climate for women in physics. The American Physical Society Committee on the Status of Women in Physics Gazette, 14(1), 4–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eby, L. (1997). Alternative forms of mentoring in changing organizational environments: A conceptual extension of the mentoring literature. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 51(1), 125–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ensher, E. A., Heun, C. & Blanchard, A. (2003). Online mentoring and computer-mediated communication: New directions in research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 63(2), 264–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erwin, L. & Maurutto, P. (1998). Beyond access: Considering gender deficits in science education. Gender and Education, 10(1), 51–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540259821096.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, M. (2003). Gender issues related to graduate student attrition in two science departments. International Journal of Science Education, 25(8), 969–989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, L., Sheridan, D. & Tian, X. E. (2014). Perceptions of ICT: An exploration of gender differences. World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications, 2014(1), 120–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorman, S. T., Durmowicz, M. C., Roskes, E. M. & Slattery, S. P. (2010). Women in the academy: Female leadership in STEM education and the evolution of a mentoring web. Forum on Public Policy Online, 2010(2). Retrieved on June 4, 2017 from ERIC database (EJ903573): http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ903573.pdf.

  • Gutke, H. & Albion, P. (2008). Exploring the worth of online communities and e-mentoring programs for beginning teachers. Paper presented at the 19th International Conference of the Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE 2008), Las Vegas, NV.

  • Hackling, M., Murcia, K., West, J. & Anderson, K. (2014). Optimising STEM education in WA schools. Retrieved on April 2, 2018 from https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/627134/Optimising-STEM-education-in-WA-Summary-Report.pdf.

  • Holmes, K., Gore, J., Smith, M. & Lloyd, A. (2018). An integrated analysis of school students’ aspirations for STEM careers: Which student and school factors are most predictive? International Journal of Science and Math Education, 16(4), 655–675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-016-9793-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, A., Aulls, M. W. & Shore, B. M. (2017). Teachers’ roles, students’ personalities, inquiry learning outcomes, and practices of science and engineering: The development and validation of the McGill attainment value for inquiry engagement survey in STEM disciplines. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15(7), 1195–1215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-016-9733-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvis, T., McKeon, F., Coates, D. & Vause, J. (2001). Beyond generic mentoring: Helping trainee teachers to teach primary science. Research in Science & Technological Education, 19(1), 5–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasprisin, C., Single, P., Sing E. R. & Muller, C. (2003). Mentoring & tutoring, 11(1), 67–78. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1361126032000054817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitzinger, J., Haran, J., Chimba, M. & Boyce, T. (2008). Role models in the media: An exploration of the views and experiences of women in science, engineering and technology. Cardiff, Wales: Cardiff University. Retrieved on March 13, 2018 from http://orca.cf.ac.uk/17534/1/report_1_kitzinger.pdf.

  • Liston, D., Borko, H. & Whitcomb, J. (2008). The teacher educator’s role in enhancing teacher quality. Journal of Teacher Education, 59(2), 111–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Livengood, K. & Moon Merchant, V. (2004). E-Mentoring Beginning Teachers. In R. Ferdig, C. Crawford, R. Carlsen, N. Davis, J. Price, R. Weber, & D. Willis (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & teacher education international conference 2004 (pp. 2420–2425). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marginson, S., Tytler, R., Freeman, B. & Roberts, K. (2013). STEM: Country comparisons: Final report. Retrieved on April 2, 2018 from http://www.acola.org.au/PDF/SAF02Consultants/SAF02_STEM_%20FINAL.pdf.

  • Mitchell, I. (2012). Beyond pink: WitsOn connects STEM students with female mentors. Retrieved on February 28, 2018 from http://www.levo.com/articles/careerexpert/witson-connects-stem-students-with-female-mentors.

  • Mosatche, H., Matloff-Nieves, S., Kekelis, L. & Lawner, E. (2013). Effective STEM programs for adolescent firls: Three approaches and many lessons learned. Retreived on 17 March 2017 from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1003839.pdf.

  • Muller, C. B. (2009). Understanding e-mentoring in organizations. Adult Learning, 20(1–2), 25–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Science Foundation (2011). Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering: 2011. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation. Retrieved on Mar. 13, 2018 from http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd.

  • O’Neil, D. K. (2002). Enabling constructivist teaching through telementoring. Special Services in the Schools, 17(1–2), 33–58. https://doi.org/10.1300/J008v17n01_03.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neil, D. K., Wagner, R. & Gomez, L. (1996). Online mentors: Experimenting in science class. Educational Leadership, 54(3), 39–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palumbo, L. (2016). Championing institutional goals: Academic libraries supporting graduate women in STEM. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 42(3), 192–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2016.03.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pau, R. (2009). Experiential factors which influence how female students perceive computing and computing careers at different stages in their education (Doctoral dissertation). Southampton, England: University of Southampton. Retrieved on February 28, 2018 from http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/159613/.

  • Philip, K. & Hendry, L. B. (2000). Making sense of mentoring or mentoring making sense? Reflections on the mentoring process by adult mentors with young people. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 10(3), 211–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quimby, J. L. & DeSantis, A. M. (2006). The influence of role models on women’s career choices. The Career Development Quarterly, 54(June), 297–306. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2006.tb00195.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rayman, P. M. & Brett, B. (1993). Pathways for women in the sciences. Wellesley, MA: Wellesley College Center for Research on Women.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redmond, P. (2015). Discipline specific online mentoring for secondary pre-service teachers. Computers & Education, 90, 95–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2015.08.018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, J., Smith, E., Iamsuk, N. & Miller, J. (2017). Balancing the equation: Mentoring first-year female STEM students at a Regional University. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 24(4), 18–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhoton, L. (2011). Distancing as a gendered barrier: Understanding women scientists’ gender practices. Gender & Society, 25(6), 696–716. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243211422717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rolfe, A. (2006). How to design and run your own mentoring program. Umina Beach, NSW: Synergetic People Development Pty Ltd. Retrieved on September 28, 2016 from http://mentoring-works.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/How-To-Design-and-Run-Your-Own-Mentoring-Program.pdf.

  • Rolfe, A. (2012). Mentoring: Mindset, Skills and Tools. Umina Beach, NSW: Synergetic People Development Pty Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rommes, E., Overbeek, G., Scholte, R., Engels, R. & De Kemp, R. (2007). I’m not interested in computers: Gender-based occupational choices of adolescents. Information, Communication & Society, 10(3), 299–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691180701409838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, G. W. & Bernard, H. R. (2003). Techniques to identify themes. Field Methods, 15(1), 85–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X02239569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sax, J., Kanny, M., Riggers-Piehl, T., Whang, H. & Paulson, L. (2015). “But I’m not good at math”: The changing salience of mathematical self-concept in shaping Women’s and Men’s STEM aspirations. Research in Higher Education, 56(8), 813–842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-015-9375-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, R. M., Wagner, A. & Killion, B. (2017). Gender and choosing a STEM major in college: Femininity, masculinity, chilly climate, and occupational values. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 54(3), 299–323. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Single, P. & Single, R. (2005). E-mentoring for social equity: Review of research to inform program development. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 13(2), 301–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611260500107481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Single, P. B., Muller, C. B., Cunningham, C. M., Single, R. M. & Carlsen, W. S. (2005). Mentornet: E-mentoring for women students in engineering and science. Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 11(3), 295–309. https://doi.org/10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.v11.i3.60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, S. & McLoughlin, C. (2007). Design features of an e-mentoring system for the health professions: Choosing to learn in partnership. Paper presented at the Ascilite Conference: Providing choices for learners and learning, Singapore.

  • Tai, R. H., Liu, C. Q., Maltese, A. V. & Fan, X. (2006). Planning early for careers in science. Science, 312(5777), 1143–1144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US2020 (2014). Igniting moments of discovery. Retrieved on June 4, 2017 from https://us2020.org/stem-mentoring.

  • Weisgram, E. & Diekman, A. (2014). Family-friendly STEM: Perspectives on recruiting and Retaining Women in STEM Fields. International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology, 8(1), 38–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitney, T., Gammal, D., Gee, B., Mahoney, J. & Simard, C. (2013). Priming the pipeline: Addressing gender-based barriers in computing. Computer, 46(3), 30–36. https://doi.org/10.1109/MC.2013.40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research was generously funded by Arrow Energy’s Brighter Futures program, although they may not agree with all of the interpretations and conclusions of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petrea Redmond.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Redmond, P., Gutke, H. STEMming the Flow: Supporting Females in STEM. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 18, 221–237 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-09963-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-019-09963-6

Keywords

Navigation