Empowering female students in STEM: lake surface waste cleanup camp project

Abstract

This study aimed to explore how participation in a thematic STEM camp, functioning as an out-of-school learning environment, influences female university students’ conceptualizations of STEM education and their awareness of its characteristics and applications. The study employed a descriptive research design, one of the qualitative research methods. The sample consisted of 42 female university students and was conducted as part of a national project at a youth center affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye. A scale developed by [14] served as the data collection tool. The scale was initially administered to participants just before the camp. During the camp, female students received approximately four hours of theoretical training based on the STEM education approach, followed by twenty hours of practical application over 4 days. After the camp, a post-scale was conducted to gather data from the students. In addition to the scale, the changes in students’ perceptions were qualitatively observed through word clouds generated before and after the camp. Research findings indicated that thematic STEM camps, conducted outside of school settings, significantly enhanced female students’ understanding of the STEM education approach and increased their awareness of its characteristics and applications. Female students are more confident when exposed to an inquiry process in out-of-school, flexible environments. Clinical trial number: It not applicable.