The Effects of STEM-Focused Career Education Program on Knowledge and Interests in STEM Areas, Career Attitude and Academic Self-Esteem of Youth with Disabilities

Abstract

In this study developed and implemented a STEM-focused career education program for youth with disabilities for equity of opportunity to provide them with STEM-related career information. The participants in this study were students in special classes of middle and high schools in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon, and took part 12 members of an experimental group and 12 members of a control group. This study used pre- and post-tests to verify the effect of the STEM-focused career education program and analyzed the differences of the averages in knowledge and interests in STEM areas, career attitude and academic self-esteem between the experimental group and the control group with an independent sample t-test. SETM-focused career education that consist of 12 session was to increase accessibility for students with disabilities to apply to the principle of UDL and SDLMI for individual approach. The result of study, knowledge and interests in STEM areas, academic self-esteem in experimental group were statistically significant, and career attitude was not statistically significant. The STEM-focused career education program in this study provided a chance youth with disabilities to be given and explore the STEM field and jobs on the dimension of equal opportunity.