Monitoring of motivation concepts for technology students (MoMoTech)
Project status: | Current | |
Project period : | 03/2007 to 02/2010 | |
Project type: |
Background
In response to the dearth in young people who are specialising in science and engineering, and to the perceived deficits in promoting an interest in technology, numerous activities have sprung up in Germany in the form of projects, programs and events. These aim to give young people an insight into technology and to interest them in technology-oriented studies and careers.
The organisers of such activities comprise the Federal government and states, companies, professional and trade associations, foundations, societies, universities and private initiatives. The programs are directed at children of pre-school age, school pupils and students. They also aim at specific target groups such as girls or young women, and at groups that have a direct impact, such as teachers.
However, until now there has been no systematic investigation of which project approaches are the most effective. acatech initiated this project to fill this research gap.
Partial objective
The first project phase involves an extensive survey of model projects. To promote networking and exchange between projects, project sponsors and active participants, a database was made available to the public that can be accessed under www.motivation-technik-entdecken.de. The online database is a search engine for MINT (Mathematics, Computer Science, Science and Technology) activities from pre-school to career entry. More than 800 projects that aim to increase enthusiasm in young people for technology and the sciences are contained in the database. Those interested in MINT, people who are active in science and in associations, and especially teachers and educators can search for offers in their geographic area or for specific topics.
Main objective
The main objective of the project is to find answers to the following questions by evaluating selected model projects as part of a wide-scale study:
- What impact do the various projects have?
- What measures are the best and most efficient in achieving a change in attitude and a lasting interest in technology and the sciences?
- To what extent do the projects meet the theoretical criteria set out in an especially developed evaluation catalogue?
- What project structures prove to be particularly promising?
This project, directed by technology sociologist Dr. Ortwin Renn of Stuttgart, is financially supported by the Georgsmarienhütte Holding and forms part of a joint initiative entitled "Technology in schools". A part of the project is coordinated by Dr. Eva-Maria Jakobs and Dr. Martina Ziefle, both of RWTH Aachen.