2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Experiential Learning Approaches to Health-themed STEM Education That Addresses Medical Concerns in Hispanic Communities (Work in Progress)

Presented at Improving Retention & Self-Efficacy through Experiential Learning and Research Programs

This work-in-progress research paper describes a project that aims to improve Hispanic middle school students’ achievement and self-efficacy in science subjects as well as instill the requisite math needed for success in these subjects. The instructional model assessed within this research leverages a multi-tiered interdisciplinary approach that involves health sciences educators and professionals cooperating with STEM educators while guiding middle school students and their families as they explore familial health data. Faculty and students work collaboratively to provide the learning activities—specifically, educators from the College of Health Sciences and College of Education introduce healthcare concepts of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology through interactive educational experiences using health-themed data collection tools. These affordable, student-friendly tools include: no-touch thermometers, stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors, weight scales, glucose monitors (with control solution), pulse oximeters, heart rate monitors, and other portable and accessible biometric tools. Additionally, teacher educators and STEM educators from the College of Education provide hands-on, parents-involved, inquiry-based learning activities in mathematics, strategies for health-data analysis and modeling, and nutrition and food sciences exercises, which will help students conceptualize and become interested in STEM topics.

Authors

Dr. Daniel A. Tillman University of Texas at El Paso [biography]

Dr. Tillman is an Associate Professor in Educational Technology, working primarily within the El Paso region of the southwestern United States. His research focuses on the implementation and assessment of innovative pedagogical approaches that address STEM inequities.
Thomas Joseph Soto University of Texas at El Paso [biography]

Thomas Soto is a Ph.D. student in the Teaching, Learning, and Culture program with a focus on STEM Education at the University of Texas at El Paso UTEP. He is also a Certified Medical Simulation Educator and Operations Specialist under the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, currently working as the Administrator for the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Previously, Thomas served as a Combat Medic with a tour to Iraq as part of the 1rst Armored Division.

Thomas began his work in Medical Simulation as an Instructor Course Developer in 2012, creating a program that provided education to deploying military personnel on initial life-saving measures for casualties. He continues his work in Simulation and has demonstrated strong leadership skills as the Administrator for the WBAMC Simulation Program at Ft Bliss. Under his leadership, the organization achieved accreditation in Teaching and Education from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. He also played a crucial role in establishing the center as a designated testing site for Fundamentals of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic testing through the creation of memorandums of agreement between academic institutions and the military.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Thomas facilitated educational opportunities in austere environments and clinical settings for the resuscitation of emergent patients with coronavirus. He presented his findings on the training exercises to the Defense Medical Modeling and Simulation Office, which was seeking education solutions at the time. Thomas also served as the Administrator Representative for the Army’s Central Simulation Committee Executive Council.

At UTEP, Thomas facilitates dialogue between the medical simulation program and military stakeholders to create student learning opportunities. He has also represented UTEP to external academic organizations such as Texas Tech University of Health Sciences Center. In addition to his work, Thomas is also contributing to a book on creativity in classrooms with a simulation chapter and conducting research in Medical Simulation. Currently, he is developing his dissertation proposal on mixed reality.
Song An University of Texas at El Paso
Carlos Paez Navajo Technical University [biography]

Carlos Paez, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Mathematics at Navajo Technical University (NTU) as well as the Program Advisor for the Mathematics Program at NTU. His current research focuses on technology-enhanced active learning in college mathematics for tribal students. He works developing lessons and curriculum to promote students’ interests in learning mathematics. He teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses about mathematics. He received his doctoral degree in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Strand of Teaching Learning and Culture Program at The University of Texas at El Paso in 2014 under the mentoring of Dr. Judith Munter.
Alice Carron Blue Marble Institute of Space Science [biography]

Alice Carron is a Science Communication and Education Affiliate at BMSIS.org. Her primary interests are in advancing Interdisciplinary studies and serving as a STEM Education and public outreach facilitator through grant management. Ms. Carron served as the NSF Marketing Coordinator for Navajo Technical University as well as being a STEM Education and Public Outreach advocate. Prior to her positions at Navajo Tech she served as a documentary film producer for numerous women's aviation and women's studies films. She is an active multicultural collaboration facilitator and dog rescuer.

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