Examining Gender Differences in Identity Development Within an Online, Global, Collaborative, Informal STEM-learning Community

informal learning
gender
epistemic network analyses
poster
Authors
Affiliations

Danielle Espino

Pepperdine University

Meg Hokama

University of Arizona

Taylor Lowe

California State University, Northridge

Eric R. Hamilton

Pepperdine University

Published

May 5, 2022

Abstract

This study examines how a learning environment that incorporates aspects of intergroup contact might impact identity development and expression. Adolescent students collaborate on creating STEM-related media projects in this global, virtual environment during weekly video conference calls, which were coded for social and self-identity constructs and analyzed using epistemic network analysis (ENA) to compare differences by gender. Literature anticipated that female students would reflect social identity constructs and male students reflect self-identity constructs, but the opposite was found indicating intergroup contact might defy expected outcomes and complement student identity development among adolescents.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22318/icls2022.2206

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