Driving STEM Education via Motorsports a Closer Look at Donk Racing — A Work in Process Paper

Authors

  • E. Shirl Donaldson University of Michigan – Flint

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v25i1.7560

Keywords:

higher education, STEM, motorsports, Donk racing, URM youth, applied engineering

Abstract

This work-in-progress research paper describes a community-based study to better understand the attraction of underrepresented minorities to an unconventional motorsport , Donk racing, as a pathway to STEM discovery. This study detects an unconscious attraction to STEM in African American youth who enjoy motorsports, especially automobile and motorcycle racing. Uncovering the attraction to STEM early in the educational process yields an opportunity to address the missing connections leading to career choices that provide greater social mobility and meet a national need. A research team has been working passionately on a groundbreaking study centered around the intriguing intersection of motorsports and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. This mixed-method study seeks to understand the connection between academic preferences and career choices through the lens of motorsports enthusiasts.

References

Bottoms, Ciechanowski, K., Jones, K., dela Hoz, J., & Fonseca, A.L. (2017). Leveraging the Community Context of Family Math and Science Nights to Develop Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices. Teaching and Teacher Education, 61, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.09.006

Gay, G., (2000). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. New York: Teachers College Press.

Johnson, M.D., Sprowles, A.E., & Goldenberg, K.R., Margell, S.T., & Castellino, L. (2020). Effect of a Place-Based Students. Innov High Educ, 45, 509–531. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-020-09519-5

Johnson, R., & Brown, K. (2020). Motorsports-based STEM education: A case study of student engagement and learning outcomes. Journal of STEM Education, 21(2), 26–32.

Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a Theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3).

Leibowitz, J.B., Lovitt, C.F., & Seager, C.S. (2020). Development and Validation of a Survey to Assess Belonging, Academic Engagement, and Self-Efficacy in STEM RLCs. Learning Communities Research and Practice, 8(1). Retrieved from https://washingtoncenter.evergreen.edu/lcrpjournal/vol8/iss1/3

Paris, D. (2012, April). Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy: A Needed Change in Stance, Terminology, and Practice Educational Researcher. American Educational Research Association, 41(3), 93–97. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/41477769

Rainey, K., Dancy, M., & Mickelson, R., et al. (2018). Race and Gender Differences in How Sense of Belonging Influences Decisions to Major in STEM. IJ STEM Ed, 5(10). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-018-0115-6

Rubinson. (2016). Relation of Out-of-Schooltime Program Participation to [STEM] Academic Outcomes for Underrepresented Youth. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Shin, J.E.L., Levy, S.R., & London, B. (2016). Effects of Role Model Exposure on STEM and Non‐STEM Student Engagement. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 46(7), 410–427.

Smith, A., & Johnson, M. (2018). Integrating motorsports into STEM education: A review of current practices and future directions. International Journal of Engineering Education, 34(2), 585–594.

Williams, L., & Thompson, K. (2019). Exploring the role of motorsports in promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM education. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 28.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-21

How to Cite

Donaldson, E. S. (2025). Driving STEM Education via Motorsports a Closer Look at Donk Racing — A Work in Process Paper. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v25i1.7560

Issue

Section

Articles