Helping majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics was the focus of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Dr. Ginger H. Rowell

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Ginger Holmes Rowell, a professor of mathematical sciences, first aired March 14 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. You can listen to their conversation below.

Rowell and mathematical sciences lecturer Ameneh Mahrou Kassaee administered questionnaires to MTSU freshman STEM majors to determine their motivation for pursuing an education in those disciplines.

They discovered that, while the students had high grade and career motivation, they might not have enough intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy and self-determination to ensure their success.

“Perhaps they don’t know as much about the field as they might think,” said Rowell. “Once they get to college, they may find that it’s different than it was in high school.

Ameneh M. Kassaee

“For example, in mathematics, sometimes they think it’s just solving problems. But once you start to do mathematics research, it’s at a whole different level of involvement and engagement.”

Rowell and Kassaee’s research paper, “Motivationally-Informed Interventions for At-Risk STEM Students,” was published in the July-September 2016 edition of the “Journal of STEM Education.” You can read the PDF here.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.