Skip to main content
COMMUNITY:
Summative

Vertically Integrated Science Learning Opportunities (VISLO) Summative Evaluation 2017-2019

May 31, 2019 | Public Programs, Informal/Formal Connections

The Vertically Integrated Science Learning Opportunity (VISLO) program builds upon an existing three-way partnership between (i) faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students form the University Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), (ii) the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLC) in Lincoln, NE, and (iii) The University of Nebraska State Museum.

VISLO uniquely incorporates vertically-integrated peer instruction across educational levels, including: graduate, undergraduate, middle school, and elementary school. Throughout the program, participants of all identified educational levels had the exceptional opportuniy to be both students and teachers, thereby increasing both their science learning (as students) and their science identity (as science educators). 

The VISLO evaluation, which took place during the 2017 - 2018 and 2018 - 2019 academic years, involved gathering demographic data from two populations: undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Communicating Science through Outreach BIOS course and the middle school and elementary school students that participated in the undergraduate led afterschool science clubs. We used a mixed methods analysis that included pre- and post-surveys of the university students and a reptrospective survey for youth each semester. Additionally, we conducted a focus group of the midle school age youth.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • REVISE logo
    Evaluator
    Methodology and Evaluation Research Core Facility, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Eric Weber
    Evaluator
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Maricela Galdamez
    Evaluator
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Cassidy Whitney
    Evaluator
    University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2015 01 06 Eileen 2015   Beach adjusted
    Principal Investigator
    University of Nebraska
  • Citation

    Funders

    Other
    Funding Program: Nebraska Department of Education Two-Year Opportunity Grant
    Funding Amount: 30,000
    Resource Type: Evaluation Reports
    Discipline: Education and learning science | General STEM
    Audience: Elementary School Children (6-10) | Middle School Children (11-13) | Undergraduate/Graduate Students | Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Community Outreach Programs | Making and Tinkering Programs | Informal/Formal Connections | K-12 Programs | Higher Education Programs

    If you would like to edit a resource, please email us to submit your request.