Abstract Title: The Impact of Homefront Factors on Student-Instructor Interactions in STEAM Education: An Empirical Study

Abstract Submitted to: EDUCATION

Abstract Text:

We report how needs for technology, shelter, income-earning activities, family care, and
teamwork, herein referred to as Homefront factors, impact interactions between students
and instructors in STEAM education. Our research of Canvas messages to instructors from 2019
to 2023 from a diverse group of undergraduate students show significant improvement in
greeting and salutation, respect, request specification, social structure, human behavior and
preparedness when compared to the COVID-19 period. We used an adapted Likert scoring tool
of scale 1-5. Our research establishes that Homefront factors do influence students interactions
with their instructors. Our analysis using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
shows a common trend in the six elements scored with this scoring tool with a significant (p <
0.001) improvement compared to during the COVID-19 period. As a result, it is critical that
institutions do need to prioritize these factors to promote student academic success and provide
community support. To maintain critical student-instructor relationships, we must also be
prepared for unexpected events that can quickly change the lives of students who are still in their
educational institutions.