Special session — "Stereotype threat" and my students: What can I do about it?

Stereotype threat occurs when one is at risk of confirming a negative stereotype about a social group that one belongs to. In the academic setting, research has shown that stereotype threat contributes to the achievement gap noted in underrepresented students in engineering classrooms. Participants in this FIE special session define and discuss stereotype threat, explore interventions that research has found to successfully reduce stereotype threat, and identify one strategy to try in the classroom. Key resources are identified including research literature, websites and videos, and recommendations for intervention strategies. In addition to the literature, participants will have access to strategies developed by other participants that can be used by instructors to mitigate stereotype threats.