Women in STEM: The impact of STEM PBL implementation on performance, attrition, and course choice of women

Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, and their attrition from the STEM pipeline begins in high school. In this study, the performance, attrition, and course selection of women in mathematics and science subjects were examined in a school where STEM Project Based Learning was introduced. A four-year longitudinal study was conducted. Data from high-stakes tests, course taking patterns, and retention were examined. Results indicated that these women´s scores improved in mathematics and science, and more females opted to take physics than did males. Moreover, female student attrition was lower than that of males and decreased markedly after the introduction of STEM PBL to the classrooms. These results indicate that implementing STEM PBL activities in classrooms is promising for improving female participation in STEM.