This study examines middle school students' perceptions of a future career in a science, math, engineering, or technology (STEM) career field. Gender, grade, predispositions to STEM contents, and learner dispositions are examined for changing perceptions and development in career-related choice behavior. Student perceptions as measured by validated measurement instruments are analyzed pre and post participation in a STEM intervention energy-monitoring program that was offered in several U.S. middle schools during the 2009-2010, 2010-2011 school years. A multiple linear regression (MLR) model, developed by incorporating predictors identified by an examination of the literature and a hypothesis-generating pilot study for prediction of STEM career interest, is introduced. Theories on the career choice development process from authors such as Ginzberg, Eccles, and Lent are examined as the basis for recognition of career concept development among students. Multiple linear regression statistics, correlation analysis, and analyses of means are used to examine student data from two separate program years. Study research questions focus on predictive ability, RSQ, of MLR models by gender/grade, and significance of model predictors in order to determine the most significant predictors of STEM career interest, and changes in students' perceptions pre and post program participation. Analysis revealed increases in the perceptions of a science career, decreases in perceptions of a STEM career, increase of the significance of science and mathematics to predictive models, and significant increases in students' perceptions of creative tendencies.

The intent of this study was to compare the attitudes toward school of elementary Indian and non-Indian students living in Northwestern Saskatchewan as these attitudes related to grade, school location, race and gender differences. <p>The literature was reviewed with two main themes, that of the history of Indian education and the development of Indian control of education and the relationship of academic self-concept to performance of children in an academic atmosphere. <p>To assess the differences in attitudes, the Student Attitude Measure developed by Dolan and Enos with the scales including <b>motivation for schooling, academic selfconcept performance based, academic self-concept reference based, sense of control over performance, and instructional mastery</b> were used. This instrument was administered to 1443 grades four, five and six students. All the data from the questionnaires identified as Indian (N=610) were used, but only a matched random sample of non-Indian (N=176) questionnaires were used from the students located in provincial schools. The various group mean scores were analyzed statistically by one-way analysis of variance and a Student Newman-Keuls multiple comparison was used to determine significant differences among group responses. The Canadian Test of Basic Skills was obtained for the reserve attending students and the composite score was correlated with the various measures of the Student Attitude Measure. <p> The results of the study were that:<br> 1. Non-Indian students had significantly higher scores on all five measures of the Student Attitude Measure.<br> 2. Differences by grade level were minimal with the Indian students scoring higher at the grade six level than the grade four, whereas, with the non-Indian student the grade six students scored significantly lower on one measure- that of self-concept performance based.<br> 3. Gender differences for Indian students were minimal with females having higher motivation for school scores and males having higher self-concept performance based scores. With the non-Indian students, the females scored significantly higher on motivation, self-concept reference based and control over performance.<br> 4. For the Indian students, the location of the school did make a difference. Students located in the Band controlled or rural provincial schools scored significantly higher on most SAM measures as compared to the Federal or city attending Indian students. Students in the city schools had the lowest scores.<br> 5. For the non-Indian student, school location did not produce significantly different scores on the SAM.<br> 6. There was a significant correlation between the Canadian Test of Basic Skills and the scales measuring motivation, self-concept reference based, sense of control over performance and instructional mastery.

The intent of this study was to compare the attitudes toward school of elementary Indian and non-Indian students living in Northwestern Saskatchewan as these attitudes related to grade, school location, race and gender differences. <p>The literature was reviewed with two main themes, that of the history of Indian education and the development of Indian control of education and the relationship of academic self-concept to performance of children in an academic atmosphere. <p>To assess the differences in attitudes, the Student Attitude Measure developed by Dolan and Enos with the scales including <b>motivation for schooling, academic selfconcept performance based, academic self-concept reference based, sense of control over performance, and instructional mastery</b> were used. This instrument was administered to 1443 grades four, five and six students. All the data from the questionnaires identified as Indian (N=610) were used, but only a matched random sample of non-Indian (N=176) questionnaires were used from the students located in provincial schools. The various group mean scores were analyzed statistically by one-way analysis of variance and a Student Newman-Keuls multiple comparison was used to determine significant differences among group responses. The Canadian Test of Basic Skills was obtained for the reserve attending students and the composite score was correlated with the various measures of the Student Attitude Measure. <p> The results of the study were that:<br> 1. Non-Indian students had significantly higher scores on all five measures of the Student Attitude Measure.<br> 2. Differences by grade level were minimal with the Indian students scoring higher at the grade six level than the grade four, whereas, with the non-Indian student the grade six students scored significantly lower on one measure- that of self-concept performance based.<br> 3. Gender differences for Indian students were minimal with females having higher motivation for school scores and males having higher self-concept performance based scores. With the non-Indian students, the females scored significantly higher on motivation, self-concept reference based and control over performance.<br> 4. For the Indian students, the location of the school did make a difference. Students located in the Band controlled or rural provincial schools scored significantly higher on most SAM measures as compared to the Federal or city attending Indian students. Students in the city schools had the lowest scores.<br> 5. For the non-Indian student, school location did not produce significantly different scores on the SAM.<br> 6. There was a significant correlation between the Canadian Test of Basic Skills and the scales measuring motivation, self-concept reference based, sense of control over performance and instructional mastery.

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if a relationship exists between implementing Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences and fifth graders' attitudes toward school. The focus population consisted of fifth grade students within a 300-mile radius of Kingsport, Tennessee. Surveys were administered to students at 15 elementary schools. Data were collected from five schools identified as implementing multiple intelligences theory, five schools identified as partially implementing multiple intelligences theory, and five schools identified as not implementing multiple intelligences theory in educational planning. Data collected primarily focused on students' attitudes toward school; however, information concerning gender was also solicited. The study employed quantitative data, and descriptive analysis was performed. Findings indicated that there was no significant difference in students' attitudes toward school among fifth graders attending schools implementing multiple intelligences theory, fifth graders attending schools partially implementing multiple intelligences theory, and fifth graders attending schools not implementing multiple intelligences theory. There were no gender related differences found. All 15 schools participating in the study could be characterized as institutions having good academic records, community support, and a dedicated faculty. The major conclusion was that these factors and others identified in the review of literature could affect students' attitudes toward school and possibly contribute to the closeness of the means among the three implementation groups.

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The feeling of ownership is a topic of research that has not been addressed as a component in the integration of technology in the K-12 classroom. The effectiveness of this abstract concept in relationship to digital computing is important in the evaluation of one-to-one initiatives in education. This paper reports findings of a research study conducted using a new ownership survey instrument I developed, the Laptop Usage Inventory (LUI). Also administered during the study was the Student Attitude Survey given in a pretest/posttest design. The instruments were administered to seventh and eighth grade students in a north Texas middle school in the 2007-2008 school year. The methodology used to evaluate the Laptop Usage Inventory consisted of Cronbach's alpha and various scaling methods. LUI scale scores were correlated with the results of the Student Attitude Survey to compare students' attitudes toward school before and after using a laptop computer for the school year. Implications for laptop initiatives and for the classroom are discussed and a future research agenda is presented.