Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate Students

ABSTRACT As educators, we should not assume that students are progressing toward intended STEM careers simply because they have persisted and received a STEM degree. In addition to learning biology content and scientific skills, students need guidance in making optimal career choices. In this study,...

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Main Authors: Melissa McCartney, Adam B. Roddy, John Geiger, Natalia C. Piland, Melina M. Ribeiro, Alexis Lainoff
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2022-04-01
Series:Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00346-21
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author Melissa McCartney
Adam B. Roddy
John Geiger
Natalia C. Piland
Melina M. Ribeiro
Alexis Lainoff
author_facet Melissa McCartney
Adam B. Roddy
John Geiger
Natalia C. Piland
Melina M. Ribeiro
Alexis Lainoff
author_sort Melissa McCartney
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT As educators, we should not assume that students are progressing toward intended STEM careers simply because they have persisted and received a STEM degree. In addition to learning biology content and scientific skills, students need guidance in making optimal career choices. In this study, we present seven career development modules designed specifically to motivate students to consider their successes as scientists and to consider applying their biological knowledge and scientific skills to a range of biology careers. These modules highlight the value and the utility of a biology degree and are, therefore, designed to increase students’ self-confidence as well as their science and biology identities. The career development modules presented here are easy to implement and, in our experience, encourage engagement and class discussions. Our analyses confirm that these modules collectively increase student science and biology identities, two predictors for entry into STEM careers.
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spelling doaj.art-191bf2b6b5c9475a85a7603b00c3e5312022-12-22T03:38:22ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852022-04-0123110.1128/jmbe.00346-21Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate StudentsMelissa McCartney0Adam B. Roddy1John Geiger2Natalia C. Piland3Melina M. Ribeiro4Alexis Lainoff5Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USAABSTRACT As educators, we should not assume that students are progressing toward intended STEM careers simply because they have persisted and received a STEM degree. In addition to learning biology content and scientific skills, students need guidance in making optimal career choices. In this study, we present seven career development modules designed specifically to motivate students to consider their successes as scientists and to consider applying their biological knowledge and scientific skills to a range of biology careers. These modules highlight the value and the utility of a biology degree and are, therefore, designed to increase students’ self-confidence as well as their science and biology identities. The career development modules presented here are easy to implement and, in our experience, encourage engagement and class discussions. Our analyses confirm that these modules collectively increase student science and biology identities, two predictors for entry into STEM careers.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00346-21biology identitycareer developmentprofessional developmentscience identityundergraduate
spellingShingle Melissa McCartney
Adam B. Roddy
John Geiger
Natalia C. Piland
Melina M. Ribeiro
Alexis Lainoff
Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate Students
Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
biology identity
career development
professional development
science identity
undergraduate
title Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate Students
title_full Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate Students
title_fullStr Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate Students
title_full_unstemmed Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate Students
title_short Seeing Yourself as a Scientist: Increasing Science Identity Using Professional Development Modules Designed for Undergraduate Students
title_sort seeing yourself as a scientist increasing science identity using professional development modules designed for undergraduate students
topic biology identity
career development
professional development
science identity
undergraduate
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00346-21
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