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COMMUNITY:
Research Brief

How Can We Re-Think Assumptions About Parent Engagement?

May 7, 2019 | Media and Technology, Public Programs, Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks, Exhibitions, Informal/Formal Connections

Organizations, institutions, or initiatives often do not engage these influential adults as effectively as they might, nor are they always sensitive to the perspectives, needs, and expertise that caregivers bring to the activities in which their children participate. STEM educators and science communicators can better support youth when they effectively engage parents in relevant aspects of the work by considering whether parents are part of the intended audience and if so, how they can participate.

About this resource:

This is a practice brief produced by CAISE's Broadening Participation in STEM Task Force to help informal STEM education (ISE) and science communication groups reflect on and strengthen their efforts to broaden participation in STEM. It is part of a larger professional development toolkit, developed for those who lead staff or train professionals within the ISE and science communication fields. Review the full toolkit for 10 additional briefs, a conversation guide, and other supports: informalscience.org/broadening-perspectives

Using practice briefs:

Practice briefs are intended to seed reflective discussions about professional practices, and be read in advance of group discussions among staff, colleagues, or trainees. They include ideas to consider, recommendations for action, further reading, and links to more tools. The task force recommends organizing multiple discussions, each using one or two briefs that participants read in advance.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Dale McCreedy Head SHot
    Author
  • REVISE logo
  • Bhaskar Upadhyay
    Author
  • Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE)
    Author
  • Citation

    Funders

    NSF
    Funding Program: AISL
    Funding Amount: 1612739
    Resource Type: Research Products
    Discipline: Education and learning science | General STEM
    Audience: Families | Parents/Caregivers | Administration/Leadership/Policymakers | Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals | Scientists | Evaluators | Learning Researchers
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Public Programs | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Exhibitions | Informal/Formal Connections

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