Abstract
Implementing and Evaluating An E-Textile Curriculum In an Engineering Summer Program for Girls (Evaluation)While many recent reforms call for improving K-12 engineering education there is little researchon the impact of engineering programs on students. There is even less research on engaging girlsin engineering in informal learning environments. To address this need, we conducted a study onthe implementation of a new curriculum, using e-textiles, in a summer engineering and STEMprogram for girls. The summer program for girls is a five-day, cost free camp to introduce girlsexciting applications of science, technology, and engineering. The goal is to help girls learnabout STEM subjects and introduce them to the careers involving STEM. Girls completing 6thgrade or 9th grade can attend the program. The program has been offered for 15 years andreached over 3000 girls.The new curriculum, using e-textiles implemented in the summer 2014 program. The evaluationof the curriculum was done through observations of the e-textile sessions, feedback from theparticipants, and information gathered in participant's engineering notebooks. While the overallfeedback on the e-textile projects was positive, the girls exhibited some displeasure at havingsewing be part of the project. We present the results of this evaluation, as well as a discussion ofthe lessons learned through the design, implementation, and assessment process of this program.