Learn more about what’s next in informal STEM. We will continue to feature new and creative research and programs, exciting stories, big picture thinking, news, and STEM systems.
From an Hour of Code to a Year of Possibilities
Read moreBy Linda Kekelis, Family Engagement Advisor Photo Courtesy Family Code NightCheers to another successful Computer Science Education Week. What began as a one-hour coding challenge has expanded into a worldwide phenomenon with millions of kids taking part in Hour of Code™ in classrooms, afterschool programs, libraries, and worksites. Held the second week of December in honor of the birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (and my birthday too), who was a pioneer in computing, Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week generate audacious aspirations and actions that inspire kids in computer science.This year’s theme, Computer Science for Good, has been especially…
10 Fun and Free Holiday Gifts for 2019
Read moreBy Linda Kekelis, Family Engagement AdvisorMake it a Season of STEM Photo: Techbridge GirlsThis year I am switching up my usual holiday gift list and sharing ideas that make time for creativity and connection. These gifts won’t cost anything, and will provide you and your child the gift of time together. Here are STEM activities to bring joy and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to your family.1. Learn a hobby togetherWant to learn to sew or solder? Interested in exploring car maintenance or improving your cooking skills for the next bake off? Libraries are a lot more than…
How Do We Achieve Computer Science for All? Not without Family Engagement
Read moreComputer science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and venture capital. Imagine youth in Detroit, DC, and Des Moines bringing their talents, fresh ideas, and social justice to these works. We get excited thinking about the possibilities. Like we do when we think about the numbers of kids who are expected to participate in this year’s Hour of Code and the number of students who took the AP Computer Science Principles exam in 2019. There are lots of bright spots in computer science both in and out of school. Kids and their families across the country and around the world are designing…
- By Linda Kekelis in News on
Got STEM? Families are the Key as Kids Head Back to School
Read moreAs kids go back to school, their families are looking for safe places for them to do their homework, engage in physical activity, and learn new skills. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) afterschool programs meet these needs and more with activities that teach skills for school, work, and life. Afterschool activities help build on the enthusiasm of kids who are already into science, robotics and math. They also spark an interest in those who haven’t discovered their love for tinkering or aptitude for coding, yet.
2019 The Summer of STEM
Read more“Not all summers are created equal.” We agree with this assessment from Laura Johnson, VP of Communications at the National Summer Learning Association. STEM Next Opportunity Fund puts forward the challenge — Let’s empower families so that every child has access to quality summer learning.
Where Do Families Go for STEM?
Read moreWhat do libraries have to do with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)? These days, plenty. You can find preschoolers and their caregivers engaging in hands-on science and math activities, girls and mothers tinkering with tools and technology, and families learning to code at summer lunch programs all at their local public library. These experiences spark new interests in kids, build confidence in parents, and can even have lasting impact on career interests.
Changing the Game in STEM with Family Engagement
Read moreSTEM Next Opportunity Fund is committed to ensuring that every child – especially girls, youth of color, kids in low-income communities, and youth with disabilities – has access to STEM experiences and the social capital that lead to greater opportunities in academics and careers. We believe family engagement is a game changer and offer this white paper to raise awareness of its importance and amplify promising practices.
Public Libraries in the STEM Ecosystem
Read moreBringing science-themed workshops to families in rural Appalachia, giving students and families in a summer meal program a chance to build robots, and letting parents see their children apply early math skills to everyday life are a few examples of how public libraries are making STEM learning experiences more accessible to families. Through interviews with library leaders in six states — Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin — Global Family Research Project learned that librarians and other library staff members are true innovators, often stretching beyond their typical program models to create more — and better — STEM…
Introduce a Girl (and Her Family) to Engineering Day
Read moreFebruary 21, 2019 is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. This special day during National Engineers Week helps girls understand they have a place in engineering a better world. Engineers Week raises awareness of engineers’ contributions to our quality of life and increases interest in engineering careers. In her recent blog, Dr. Kekelis shares a list of five ideas to spark inspiration and empower parents to Introduce Their Girl to Engineering Day and the days and weeks after.
Science Chapter Books: Launchpads for Middle Schoolers
Read moreSharing a few chapter book gems with parents and caregivers can be a brief but highly productive part of family night at a school, or open house at a library.
