Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines play a pivotal role in societal progress and economic prosperity, in addition to enhancing individual lives. However, U.S. students lack strong STEM performance in an international context. The pool of STEM?proficient workers is thus insufficient to fuel the nation, with females being one group that is noticeably absent. Out?of?school?time (OST) programs, which are on the rise, are increasingly suggested as a way to support and encourage females in STEM. Data collected from participants in OST programs have shown improved achievement, interest, and confidence in STEM, as well as greater awareness of STEM role models and careers. Out?of?School?Time STEM Programs for Females: Implications for Research and Practice features seven OST STEM programs for females from across the United States that run one week to one year in length. In this book, the chapter authors describe their programs, the effectiveness of those programs, and practical implications of their program evaluation data. This book is the first of its kind to offer researchers, educators, school administrators, policy makers, and others detailed insight into the promise and practice of out?of?school?time STEM programs for females.
More and more young people are learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a wide variety of afterschool, summer, and informal programs. At the same time, there has been increasing awareness of the value of such programs in sparking, sustaining, and extending interest in and understanding of STEM. To help policy makers, funders and education leaders in both school and out-of-school settings make informed decisions about how to best leverage the educational and learning resources in their community, this report identifies features of productive STEM programs in out-of-school settings. Identifying and Supporting Productive STEM Programs in Out-of-School Settings draws from a wide range of research traditions to illustrate that interest in STEM and deep STEM learning develop across time and settings. The report provides guidance on how to evaluate and sustain programs. This report is a resource for local, state, and federal policy makers seeking to broaden access to multiple, high-quality STEM learning opportunities in their community.
Vol. II: Short-Term Programs features eight OST STEM programs for females from across the United States that run one to three days in length, in most cases, a single day. In this book, the chapter authors describe their programs, the effectiveness of those programs, and practical implications of their program evaluation data. This book series is the first of its kind to offer researchers, educators, school administrators, policy makers, and others detailed insight into the promise and practice of out-of-school-time STEM programs for females. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines play a pivotal role in societal progress and economic prosperity, in addition to enhancing individual lives. However, U.S. students lack strong STEM performance in an international context. The pool of STEM-proficient workers is thus insufficient to fuel the nation, with females being one group that is noticeably absent. Out-of-school-time (OST) programs, which are on the rise, are increasingly suggested as a way to support and encourage underrepresented groups in STEM. Participants in OST programs have shown improved achievement, interest, and confidence in STEM, as well as greater awareness of STEM role models and careers.
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Out-of-School Learning documents what the best research has revealed about out-of-school learning: what facilitates or hampers it; where it takes place most effectively; how we can encourage it to develop talents and strengthen communities; and why it matters. Key features include: Approximately 260 articles organized A-to-Z in 2 volumes available in a choice of electronic or print formats. Signed articles, specially commissioned for this work and authored by key figures in the field, conclude with Cross References and Further Readings to guide students to the next step in a research journey. Reader’s Guide groups related articles within broad, thematic areas to make it easy for readers to spot additional relevant articles at a glance. Detailed Index, the Reader’s Guide, and Cross References combine for search-and-browse in the electronic version. Resource Guide points to classic books, journals, and web sites, including those of key associations.
This report aims to 'crack the code' by deciphering the factors that hinder and facilitate girls' and women's participation, achievement and continuation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and, in particular, what the education sector can do to promote girls' and women's interest in and engagement with STEM education and ultimately STEM careers.
This handbook gathers in one volume the major research and scholarship related to multicultural science education that has developed since the field was named and established by Atwater in 1993. Culture is defined in this handbook as an integrated pattern of shared values, beliefs, languages, worldviews, behaviors, artifacts, knowledge, and social and political relationships of a group of people in a particular place or time that the people use to understand or make meaning of their world, each other, and other groups of people and to transmit these to succeeding generations. The research studies include both different kinds of qualitative and quantitative studies. The chapters in this volume reflect differing ideas about culture and its impact on science learning and teaching in different K-14 contexts and policy issues. Research findings about groups that are underrepresented in STEM in the United States, and in other countries related to language issues and indigenous knowledge are included in this volume.
Built for More, The Role of OST in Preparing Youth for the Future of Work will highlight OST research and illustrative practices and bring forward multi-disciplinary perspectives about future trends, innovations, and the impact of OST on the future workforce. The focus is on OST programs as well as related activities that contribute to employability, such as summer work, internships, apprenticeships, disability inclusion, career-focused mentoring, and more. The book will also lift up voices traditionally left out of the OST conversation, including BIPOC, rural, and other marginalized communities. Given that the world of work is rapidly evolving, what are the most important ways we should be framing education and youth development work? Define forces and illuminate the trends reshaping the necessary skills that youth will need to thrive professionally, personally, and to positively impact their communities. What are the skills that employers are saying are most valuable due to transformation from automation, machine learning, and the 4th industrial age we are experiencing globally? What are key demographic shifts that add urgency to the imperative for change in our human development ecosystems? ENDORSEMENTS: "Built for More: The Role of Out-of-School Time in Preparing Youth for the Future of Work is a compelling, insightful must read about the current and future trends on out-of-school time. This book is loaded with fascinating detail and interdisciplinary perspectives that highlight the impact of OST on teaching and learning, workforce development, and creating global citizens for a diverse society. This book makes a persuasive argument that is difficult to refute and should be required reading for anyone interested in the future of young people in the United States." — Joshua Childs, University of Texas at Austin "As a youth empowerment leader committed to breaking systemic barriers and fostering transformative change, Built for More: The Role of OST in Preparing Youth for the Future of Work is an important resource. This book highlights the key institutional shifts needed to cultivate youth agency within our rapidly evolving educational, professional and technological landscape. Its focus on the impact of out-of-school time (OST) programs and critical pathways such as internships, apprenticeships, and career focused mentoring offers important insights to bridge the gap between education and employment. Its emphasis on elevating BIPOC and rural voices sets it apart, offering a truly inclusive approach to reducing barriers and shaping innovative interventions that authentically resonate with and empower our youth." — Hollie Neal Morgan, Fossil Foundation "The coming decades will be some of the most challenging in history, while also being the most opportunity-rich. Questions of intelligence, belonging and humanity ripple through everyday dialog and innovation and adaptable learner-centered programs are rising to the occasion to meet our young people with voice, agency and relationship. Built for More: The Role of Out-of-School Time in Preparing Youth for the Future of Work is a critical compilation of OST stories paints a portrait of nimble, learner-centered environments that prioritize agency and relationships. These stories spotlight crucial programs and education ecosystems from respected voices." — Tom Vander Ark, Getting Smart
Informal science is a burgeoning field that operates across a broad range of venues and envisages learning outcomes for individuals, schools, families, and society. The evidence base that describes informal science, its promise, and effects is informed by a range of disciplines and perspectives, including field-based research, visitor studies, and psychological and anthropological studies of learning. Learning Science in Informal Environments draws together disparate literatures, synthesizes the state of knowledge, and articulates a common framework for the next generation of research on learning science in informal environments across a life span. Contributors include recognized experts in a range of disciplines-research and evaluation, exhibit designers, program developers, and educators. They also have experience in a range of settings-museums, after-school programs, science and technology centers, media enterprises, aquariums, zoos, state parks, and botanical gardens. Learning Science in Informal Environments is an invaluable guide for program and exhibit designers, evaluators, staff of science-rich informal learning institutions and community-based organizations, scientists interested in educational outreach, federal science agency education staff, and K-12 science educators.
Locally or individually, STEM programs provide additional opportunities to engage K-12 students, including those from marginalized groups, with the support of STEM outreach organizations through the co-construction and implementation of STEM activities during school, out of school, at home, and in the community. Research suggests that community-engaged partnerships forge relationships that can enhance and sustain K-12 STEM education efforts between K-12 districts and the scholarly community. There is a need to highlight community-engaged teaching and scholarship produced from partnerships between K-12 school districts and STEM outreach organizations. Developing and Sustaining STEM Programs Across the K-12 Education Landscape describes the purpose of the collaboration between K-12 school districts and STEM outreach organizations, the STEM activities that participating K-12 students engage in, and the impacts on STEM learners that emerge from the partnership. Covering topics such as continuous program improvement, school-industry partnerships, and student success, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for educational leaders and administrators, pre-service and in-service educators, teacher educators, researchers, and academicians.
