Constructing Community Learning Opportunities to Reduce Attrition Against Women in Engineering

Abstract

This research aims to provide insight into engineering education and how to structure academic course work and projects to demonstrate how engineers benefit society. By establishing the connection between industry and society, female students may be more interested in pursuing both Engineering education and a career in the field following graduation. As it is not part of the typical curriculum to structure coursework this way, many students fail to make this connection. Through the introduction of a community-based learning course project, first-year students were required to teach mechanics concepts to Grade 7 and 8 students. They were then asked to reflect on their experiences with the project using reflection reports and focus group discussions. The results largely illustrate an increased interest from students in the field of Engineering, especially among female first-year students.