Measuring the Impact of Innovation Programs on STEM Students' Mindsets: Development of the Transformative Learning Scale

Innovation competitions and programs (ICPs) are becoming pivotal in STEM education by immersing students in experiential learning that fosters an innovation mindset. However, measuring the transformative impact of ICPs on students remains a challenge due to the lack of validated frameworks. This study introduces the Transformative Learning Scale for the Innovation Mindset (TLSIM), designed to assess shifts in self-awareness, open-mindedness, and innovation capabilities among STEM students. Using Transformative Learning Theory (TLT) and Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network's (KEEN) 3Cs framework (Curiosity, Connections, Creating Value), TLSIM was developed and validated through expert reviews, focus groups, and psychometric analysis with data from 291 STEM students, 70.2% of whom were engineering majors. Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed strong psychometric properties, demonstrating TLSIM's reliability and validity in capturing transformative learning in ICP contexts. The scale emphasizes the multidimensional nature of the innovation mindset and focuses on both the outcomes and processes of developing an innovation mindset. Thereby, the TLSIM provides a new way for educators and program designers to assess and enhance the effectiveness of ICPs in fostering innovation mindsets in STEM education. The paper also presents preliminary findings about the connections between ICP processes and innovation mindset. The TLSIM tool has the potential to significantly improve the assessment and development of ICPs, which could result in more impactful innovations in STEM education. Future research will focus on refining the instrument and exploring its cross-disciplinary applications.