Program Outcomes

The PIE program is evaluated with a formal procedure that uses a combination of tools, including:

• Analysis of PIE activities for consistency with mission;
• Problem solving exercises;
• Pre - and post - program student surveys, both middle school and college students;
• Post - program parent satisfaction survey, for parents of middle school students;
• Focus - group discussions with middle school participants.

Some early evaluation results include:

Students measure compressive strength of concrete test cylinders.

• When comparing pre-, mid-, and post-program assignments, PIE girls show improved
  understanding of the problem solving process and a greater ability to deal with
  solving a problem.
• When compared to a control group of 8^th graders, PIE participants showed a significant
  increase in their exposure to female engineers, more conversations with adults about
  engineering careers, more discussions with their guidance counselors, and more
  familiarity with college students.
  
• All PIE participants responded yes to survey questions asking whether they
  plan to attend College.
  
• PIE participants indicated that they knew significantly more female engineers, and more
  college students, when compared with the entire control group.
• PIE participants were significantly more confident, than the control group, that they were
  capable of becoming an engineer and would consider engineering as a career option.

Teambuilding exercises: a major component of the PIE experience.