Abstract:

Engineering has always been crucial to the evolution of humanity and the entire world, serving as a key component in solving the increasingly complex problems we face daily. This is why it is more important than ever for young people to develop a taste and passion for studying engineering or a related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) academic program.

In Latin America, the number of students choosing engineering as a field of study is decreasing. This is often because they do not have complete information about these careers or do not understand what they entail and what jobs they could pursue after graduation.

To address this, four workshops were developed and implemented to reinforce the understanding of STEM fields:
1. Baking cookies with protein extracted from crickets
2. 3D printing of minions
3. Data science and mathematics behind influencers and celebrities
4. Molecular mixology

These four workshops were delivered to a group of 58 high school students from the following Latin American countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. The workshops were conducted by inspiring professors who are experts in each subject. The workshops were designed to provide students with experiences and information to help them make informed career decisions.

After the workshops, the impact of these activities was evaluated. 99% of the students commented that the workshops helped them understand engineering and STEM fields and their applications, and 72% mentioned that after these workshops they are considering studying an engineering career. Additionally, 99% of the students said they would recommend these workshops to other students who are undecided about their future career paths.

Based on the evaluation and feedback received from the students, it is being considered to continue offering these workshops and even to create more with different topics of interest for high school students.

Keywords:

Educational Innovation, Higher Education, Challenge-Based Learning, STEM careers, Career decision-making, Engineering Education.