This whitepaper introduces the Strategic Outcomes Framework, a taxonomy of outcome types within eight outcome categories (interest, attitude, knowledge, STEM skills, 21st century skills and social emotional evelopment, behavior, STEM capital, and career path). It summarizes proceedings of the NSF-funded Strategic Outcome Progressions Conference: Exploring a Framework for Measuring Informal Education Outcomes and Institutional Impact (award # 2039209) and changes made to the framework as a result. Among these changes are the necessity of nesting the framework within what we have come to call
Across literature on STEM practice and STEM education, definitions of "imagination" vary in a number of ways. The visual tool below presents a way to organize the characteristics of these definitions along three dimensions: essence, ways of thinking, and context. Using this framework, you can build definitions of imagination relevant to your work.
This poster was presented at the 2021 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting.
The project's goals are to:
Create “data-catcher” exhibits that provide exciting learning experiences about cooperation while allowing visitors to contribute to research in social science.
Build public awareness of the methods of social science.
Generate valid data for academic research.
Assess the impact of public participation in scientific research (PPSR) on visitors’ interest, engagement, and understanding.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Josh GutwillHeike WinterheldLee CronkAthena Aktipis
The overarching goal of this Research in Service to Practice project is to leverage multimodal learning analytics to develop an enriched understanding of visitor engagement in science museums. The project centers on data-rich investigations of visitor engagement with interactive tabletop exhibits about environmental science and sustainability. During free-choice learning in museums and science centers, visitor engagement shapes how learners interact with exhibits, move around the exhibit space, and form attitudes, interests, and understanding of science. Multimodal visitor analytics integrates
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TEAM MEMBERS:
James LesterJonathan RoweJames MinogueRoy Campbell
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This project's goal is to advance the field by providing resources that empower STEM educators to design and deliver high-quality connected learning experiences based on relevant research and incorporating evidence-based practices.
This poster was presented at the 2021 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting.
This poster was presented at the 2021 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting.
Dinosaurs of Antarctica is a giant screen film and outreach project that documents the work of NSF-funded researchers on expeditions to Shackleton Glacier during the 2017-2018 field season. This immersive film and companion television special will bring the past to life and engage the public, and particularly students in middle grades (6-9), with polar science through appealing, entertaining media experiences and informal learning programs. The film serves as a companion for the synonymous Antarctic Dinosaurs museum exhibition
The field of social and emotional learning (SEL) is rapidly expanding, as educators bring a sharper focus to helping children build skills beyond academic knowledge. School climate initiatives, anti-bullying work, positive behavior supports and other SEL efforts are now steering programs in schools and out-of-school-time (OST) settings across the country. Building children's SEL skills has taken on even more urgency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This updated and expanded guide to evidence-based SEL programs offers detailed information on 33 pre-K through elementary school programs
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Stephanie JonesKatharine BrushThelma Ramirez
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
Through an NSF-funded literature review, professional survey, and virtual convening, the Museum of Science, Boston is systematically documenting intersections between imagination, STEM and learning to create research-based resources for positioning and attending to imaginative ways of thinking in informal STEM learning environments. This poster shares an overview of our research methods and preliminary findings (as of Sept 2021).
This poster was presented at the 2021 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting.
The Museum of Science, Boston received funding from the National Science Foundation to carry out a conference grant exploring connections between research and practice at the intersections of imagination, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and ISE (informal STEM education). A series of virtual convening events were held from September 8-17, 2021. The proceedings of these events are documented in this report to summarize the content of the convening activities as they were implemented, provide references and citations for the content delivered, and acknowledge the
This poster was presented at the 2021 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting.
How does a long-lasting, statewide, out-of- school science learning experience influence how key stakeholders think about the value of out-of-school learning and its intersection with in-school learning?
This poster was presented at the 2021 NSF AISL Awardee Meeting.
Many informal learning institutions use STEAM approaches to engage diverse learners. Our project aims to support educators in libraries, museums, and after school programs through a STEAM professional development (PD) series. Our PD approach is centered around a set of core STEAM practices that prioritize STEAM mindset and identity work. Participants engage in exemplar activities and design new experiences for their specific teaching and learning contexts. The series involves in- person sessions, online training, and team