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ST Academy AIAA SciTech 2023

Connor Jakubik edited this page Feb 17, 2025 · 2 revisions
Publications / Theses

Space Teams STEM Competition: Outcomes and Efficacy

Authors

E. Koock, F. Arias, C. Duncan, G. Chamitoff

Abstract

Space Teams is a six-day long STEM competition where elementary through high school students around the world compete in designing the most efficient interplanetary mission using a high-fidelity spaceflight simulator, SpaceCRAFT. A study was conducted to gauge how greater engagement in the program affected students’ understanding of the engineering design process, STEM identity and self-efficacy, interest in STEM, and overall understanding of the importance of exploration. In addition to time spent in the program, engineering analysis data over the students’ designs, survey responses and quiz scores were recorded to investigate relationships between engagement in the program, positive feedback and higher performance. After data analysis, it was concluded that greater engagement in the Space Teams competition resulted in greater understanding of the engineering design process, positive attitudes towards space science and engineering, significantly greater STEM identity and self-efficacy, and an increased understanding of the importance of exploration.

Link to PDF

koock-et-al-2023-space-teams-stem-competition-outcomes-and-efficacy.pdf

Link to online listing

https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2023-1021

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