This white paper discusses how out-of-school providers can inspire more underrepresented youth to become the innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow. Boys & Girls Clubs of America convened key stakeholders from higher education, government, corporations and nonprofit organizations at the STEM Great Think, the first national thought leadership forum to combine innovation and creativity with STEM programming in the out-of-school time environment. The purpose of the STEM Great Think was to develop a plan for establishing strategic partnerships that advance STEM education during out-of-school
This poster was presented at the 2014 AISL PI Meeting. It describes a project that creates experiences in herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians) for rural underrepresented groups.
Project STEAM aims to inspire art-interested girls to enter STEM careers through a series of activities, including summer academies that explore the biology and physics of color, science café-style presentations that feature the overlap between art and science, and the development of “kits” that can be used in informal and formal venues (Girl Scouts, science centers, and K-12 classrooms). Project research explores two questions: 1) How does an art-focused approach (STEAM) to teaching science support engagement in scientific practices such as experimentation, observation, and communication of
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TEAM MEMBERS:
University of Alaska, FairbanksLaura Conner
This poster was presented at the 2014 AISL PI Meeting. It describes a project that uses location-based augmented reality games on smartphones to engage youth in activities developed by informal science institutions.
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Missouri Botanical GardenBob Coulter
This is the final report of the Informal Science Education (ISE) supplemental two year NSF grant for the partnership between CCI Solar Fuels and Westside Science Club that ran between October 2012 and July 2014. After a brief program overview and goals, it lists the program components. Then it traces the history of each partner, including a partnership with Wildwood High School in Santa Monica, and LA Makerspace. Each section also briefly outlines the evaluation performed by a professional evaluator. The program will continue with a partnership with a local Pasadena, CA museum called Kidspace
This poster describes Skynet Junior Scholars (NSF award numbers 1223687, 1223235, 1223345) project. Skynet Junior Scholars engages middle and high school aged youth in the study of the Universe using the same tools as professionals by: targeting youth audience enrolled in the 4-H program; building accessibility standards into the SJS design ; using research quality, multi-wavelength telescopes. These telescopes are part of the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network.
This poster was presented at the 2014 AISL PI Meeting. Led by Washington University, Making Natural Connections: An Authentic Field Research Collaboration (DRL-0739874), is a series of two field-based informal science education programs in environmental biology targeting St. Louis area teenagers. The project aims for engagement of science research institutions and career scientists in the execution of informal science education programming, bringing real and dynamic context to the science content and allowing for deep and transparent career exploration by teenage participants. Project goals
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Washington University in St. LouisSusan FlowersKim MedleyKatherine Beyer
The Coalition for Science After School (CSAS) was established in 2004 in response to the growing recognition of the need for more opportunities for STEM in out-of-school time, and the increasing attention being paid to out-of-school time programs. CSAS sought to build the field of STEM in out-of-school time by uniting science education goals with out-of-school time opportunities and a focus on youth development. Over a decade of work, CSAS Steering Committee members, staff and partners advocated for STEM in out-of-school-time settings, convened STEM in out-of-school time leaders, and created
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The Coalition for Science After SchoolLeah Reisman
In 2006 the Coalition for Science After School, under a subcontract from SEDL as part of their U.S. Department of Education grant, began an investigation of the potential of out-of-school time programs as a network of early support for advanced STEM coursework, including Advanced Placement courses and their prerequisites. This undertaking responded to research findings that math and science are "critical filters," that continuation in STEM education and careers depends on opting for sequential and rigorous courses, and that young people need messages and preparation that encouraged them to
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The Coalition for Science After SchoolLynn Dierking
In 2006 the Coalition for Science After School, under a subcontract from SEDL as part of their U.S. Department of Education grant, began an investigation of the potential of out-of-school time programs as a network of early support for advanced STEM coursework, including Advanced Placement courses and their prerequisites. This undertaking responded to research findings that math and science are "critical filters," that continuation in STEM education and careers depends on opting for sequential and rigorous courses, and that young people need messages and preparation that encouraged them to
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The Coalition for Science After SchoolNicole YohalemAndrew Shouse
The Coalition for Science After School was initiated through two NSF-funded meetings in 2004 and 2005 that brought science education and out-of-school time leaders together to explore strategies for further merging the two fields. Through the second conference, held in Marina del Ray, CA, a blueprint for CSAS was designed and finalized. Under the leadership of an eight-member Executive Committee, an expanded 20-member Steering Committee, and acting director Bronwyn Bevan, CSAS was launched with 40 members. The meeting report, A Blueprint for Action (2007), laid out CSAS priorities and
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TEAM MEMBERS:
The Coalition for Science After SchoolThe Coalition for Science After School
In 2009 the Coalition for Science After School hosted the First National Conference on Science and Technology in Out-of-School Time. Funded by the Noyce Foundation, with additional support from Science Chicago, the Motorola Foundation, and the United States Department of Education, the meeting took place in Chicago, IL and resulted in a 2009 report, "A Watershed Moment."
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The Coalition for Science After SchoolThe Coalition for Science After SchoolProject Exploration