STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN AN ONLINE STEM CAMP: WHERE HAVE YOU PEOPLE BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

This thesis investigates an online STEM camp called Techie Times and observes its ability to engage rural and urban students in Indiana after the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Students from both locales are found to engage with the camp but only from a few counties across Indiana. Techie Times observed high skills and performance engagement and moderate participation and emotional engagement. The guardians of students appreciated the online camp’s structure, ease of access, and hands-on activities, but thought that the students needed more opportunities to interact with each other and present ideas.