Afterschool programs that provide strong STEM learning experiences are making an impact on participating youth not only become excited and engaged in these fields but develop STEM skills and proficiencies, come to value these fields and their contributions to society, and -- significantly -- begin to see themselves as potential contributors to the STEM enterprise. This paper summarizes evaluation data from a selection of strong afterschool STEM programs, providing a snapshot of the types of substantive impacts afterschool programs are having on youth.
Since 2008, Natasha Ray, New Haven Healthy Start Consortium Coordinator and physician researchers from the Yale Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program (YRWJFCSP) have partnered on a series of research projects to address maternal health issues in New Haven, CT. During these partnerships, Natasha Ray, Kenn Harris, Director of New Haven Healthy Start and community research faculty from the YRWJFCSP reflected on what they experienced as best practices in community partnered research. An opportunity arose between these two long standing research partners to gain a greater understanding of
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Natasha RayKaren Wang
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
Presentation of a summary of the Finding FOCIS project, including research results and conceptual framework. This presentation was given at the Virginia Science Coordinators Meeting in May 2014. These slides have also been used for other professional development workshops.
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
University of Virginia Main CampusRobert Tai
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
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
The Coalition for Science After SchoolLeah Reisman
Technologies are socially constructed. They mutate in the process of finding their social niche, and we come to understand what they "essentially" are by their cultural fit... This year a broad array of Web 2.0 applications and services in museums is being displayed at Museums and the Web. Although social computing is not the only species of Web activity we see, it is dominant for the first time. So, with the pervasive adoption of Web technologies as mechanisms for audience engagement -- and the re-situation of the museum on the Web in social application spaces controlled by others, rather
In the provision of networked services for museums, the term 'openness' crops up in a variety of contexts including open standards and open source software. In addition, the Web 2.0 environment has led to increased interest in open content and in the use of freely available networked applications which may be regarded as open services. This focus on openness for the developer or service provider can be complemented with a culture of openness which encourages the users to actively engage with services and generate their own content. It can be difficult to argue against the benefits which
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
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
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
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
The Coalition for Science After SchoolYolanda S. George
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
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
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
DATE:
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."
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
The Coalition for Science After SchoolThe Coalition for Science After SchoolProject Exploration
During 2008, CSAS worked to document the key projects, resources and people working to incorporate STEM learning opportunities as part of out-of-school time programs. This work resulted in the formation of three communities of practice: Staff Capacity and Professional Development, Development of STEM Learning Activities, and Programs and Program Improvement. The purpose of these communities of practice was to strengthen the intellectual foundation of out-of-school time STEM education, and provide the professionals who serve the out-of-school time field with common concepts, models and
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
The Coalition for Science After SchoolThe Coalition for Science After School