How to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers

As part of its broader efforts to help improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the US, Microsoft commissioned two surveys with Harris Interactive among college students pursuing STEM degrees, and parents of K-12 students. The goal of the surveys was to gain insight about what can better prepare and inspire students to pursue post-secondary education in STEM subjects. In these surveys, parents and students were asked about their perceptions and attitudes of STEM education in the US, shedding light on how to inspire more young people to pursue post-secondary education in STEM subjects.

The state of STEM education has been a leading topic of conversation and concern among education leaders, teachers and faculty members, policymakers, business leaders, parents, and even students in recent years. The US will have more than 1.2 million job openings in STEM-related fields by 2018, according to the US Department of Labor, and, unfortunately, there will be a significant shortage of qualified college graduates to fill them.

“In today’s globally competitive and technologically driven economy, the jobs available to our country’s young people increasingly depend on the quality of the education and skills they acquire,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft’s General Counsel and Senior Vice President. “If our students are to compete successfully for the jobs of the future, we must better prepare them to be lifelong learners and give them a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and math. Our goal in fielding the surveys was to uncover ways to encourage interest in STEM among today’s youth - our future leaders.”

Microsoft STEM survey key findings

Parent perceptions

Parents were asked about their perceptions of STEM education in K-12, and the survey found broad agreement that there is room for improvement.

• Although most parents of K-12 students (93%) believe that STEM education should be a priority in the US, only half (49%) agreed that it actually is a top priority for this country.
• Parents who feel STEM should be a priority said they feel this way because they want to ensure the US remains competitive in the global marketplace (53%) and to produce the next generation of innovators (51%); fewer said it’s to enable students to have well-paying (36%) or fulfilling careers (30%).
• Even though many parents (50%) would like to see their children pursue a STEM career, only 24% are extremely willing to spend extra money helping their children be successful in their math and science classes.

Student perceptions

College students pursuing a STEM degree were asked to rate how well their K-12 education prepared them for their college courses in STEM, and why they chose to pursue a STEM academic path.

Importance of K-12 education

• For many, the decision to study STEM starts before college. 
• Nearly four in five STEM college students said they decided to study STEM in high school or earlier (78%). One in five (21%) decided in middle school or earlier.
• More than half (57%) of STEM college students said that before going to college, a teacher or class got them interested in STEM (20%).
• This is especially true of female students (68% versus 51% of males) who chose “a teacher or class” as the top factor that sparked their interest.

Preparedness

• Only one in five STEM college students felt that their K-12 education prepared them extremely well for their college courses in STEM.
• Students who felt less prepared for STEM college courses said that offering more STEM courses and having better or more challenging courses would have helped to better prepare them - and for students who felt extremely or very well prepared, it was the challenging, college prep courses that helped to prepare them.
• Females in STEM were more likely than males to say they were extremely/very or well prepared (64% versus 49%) by their K-12 education, and females were slightly more likely than their male counterparts to say that preparing students for STEM should be a top priority in K-12 schools (92% vs 84%).

Motivation

Based on the college student survey findings, the motivation to pursue STEM studies did not originate from their parents telling them to select that subject area or even because they know the US is in need of STEM graduates. 

• Rather, students who select a STEM path indicated they do so to secure their own futures.
• 68% said they want a good salary.
• 66% said it’s the job potential.
• 68% said they find their degree program subjects intellectually stimulating and challenging.

Gender differences

• The inspiration for choosing STEM varied quite a bit between males and females.
• Male students were more likely to pursue STEM because they have always enjoyed playing with games and toys, reading books and participating in clubs focused on their chosen subject areas (51% vs 35% of females).
• Female students were more likely to say they chose STEM to make a difference (49% vs 34% of males).

The president’s ‘all hands on deck’ call to improve STEM education has galvanised the industry to do more. In his State of the Union address in January 2011, President Obama said, “Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America's success. But if we want to win the future - if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas - then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.” The private sector is responding to Obama’s call not just with financial support, but also with commitments that take advantage of their core competencies and the skills and passion of their employees. More than 100 CEOs, including Microsoft’s, have come together to launch Change the Equation, an historic effort to scale up effective models for improving STEM education.

“Inspiring student appreciation and excitement for STEM programs and careers is critical to ensure our nation’s prosperous future,” said Linda P Rosen, CEO, Change the Equation. “These surveys show that parents and students want a greater focus on STEM in K-12 schools and realise the importance of STEM skills not only to obtain a good job, but for the economy at large.”

Survey details

The surveys were conducted online within the United States in May 2011 by Harris Interactive on behalf of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide and Microsoft among 1074 parents of children aged 17 years or younger, 854 of whom are parents of K-12 students, and 500 US undergraduate college students, aged 18-24, who are currently pursuing a STEM degree. Data were weighted to be representative of the populations of interest. These online surveys are not based on a probability sample, and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

The full report can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/citizenship/docs/STEMPerceptionsReport.pdf.