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.
How a Library’s Making Program Empowers Mothers and Daughters
Read morePublic libraries have a unique opportunity to expand the reach of STEM. “Public libraries provide a ‘third space’ beyond the formal classroom and home that can unite schools and communities around STEM education and complete the community’s STEM learning ecosystem.” What’s more, public libraries are accessible and trusted spaces in the community; these elements help to increase access for youth and parents who are underserved and underrepresented in STEM. In celebration of National Library Week April 8-14, we showcase one library that expanded its mission with a new program to support families and help close the opportunity gap in…
After Hour of Code™: Family Engagement Maintains the Momentum
Read moreComputer Science Education Week aims to inspire K-12 students in computer science. Held the second week of December in honor of the birthday of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, who was a pioneer in computing, Computer Science Education Week generates interest for computer science and draws attention to broadening participation across race, class, and gender. Hour of Code™ is the star attraction for Computer Science Education Week, with Code.org® serving as lead organizer. Leveraging cross-sector partnerships, Hour of Code™ has become a global movement that offers tutorials for every age and experience level. In 2017 more than ten million students in over 180…
Promising Practice for Engaging Families: Spotlight 08
Read moreA workshop that gives families a chance to connect over coding or persevere through an engineering design challenge is a great first step in family engagement in STEM. But family engagement can be so much more. Jane Albin, Program Enhancement Specialist at the YMCA of the USA, offers insights into making family engagement an essential element across an organization. Jane describes that family engagement at the Y is fundamental to their youth development work and beneficial to youth and families at the Y.
Promising Practice for Engaging Families: Spotlight 07
Read moreParents can play an important role in supporting their children’s learning and pathways with technology. However, when programs have a family element, it often involves parents attending an end-of-program celebration to see what their kids have learned. This is an important start, but programs can do better. Here are five take-aways from Family Creative Learning that successfully re-imagine family engagement, creating computing programs that put families at the center with kids and parents learning together.
Promising Practice for Engaging Families: Spotlight 06
Read moreFrom preventing summer learning loss to promoting engagement in STEM, there is abundant research that parents play an important role in their children’s academic and career paths. And yet how can every parent access research and resources to help their children? We highlight three organizations that have found creative ways to support parents. Our take-away from these organizations and their innovative approaches is twofold. First, they listen to parents’ priorities. Second, they strive to make research and resources truly accessible to families.
The Role of Books and Reading in STEM: An Overview of the Benefits for Children and the Opportunities to Enhance the field
Read moreSTEM Next and The Molina Foundation, have extensive experience working with early childhood centers, after-school programs and K-12 campuses throughout the nation. We have seen that the strongest STEM educational programs interweave literacy-rich materials with hands-on investigation and experimentation. This new report takes a deeper look at both the research and the current environment supporting the connections between literacy and STEM, especially in underserved and English language learner populations. We wanted to uncover findings that would help empower practitioners, educators, researchers, and policymakers with the right education tools to ensure our children are on a path for success.
Promising Practice for Engaging Families: Spotlight 05
Read moreGirls don’t start out with less interest in STEM. In preschool, they are curious, bold in their actions, and filled with dreams. Yet, by age six, girls are less likely to think girls can be really, really smart. This belief matters because it affects girls’ willingness to try challenging activities. Instead of settling for the status-quo, let’s reimagine how we talk to girls. Let’s show them what we value by what we say to them.
Promising Practice for Engaging Families: Spotlight 04
Read moreFamily STEM night. Check. While it’s great to host a celebration so that parents can see what their children have accomplished in an afterschool program or summer camp, there is so much more to do. It’s essential to make family engagement more than a one-time experience. Here are three promising practices from groups who listened and learned from families about how to make their STEM programs relevant, accessible, and importantly, ongoing past family night.
Afterschool STEM programs inspire kids to keep learning
Read moreAt an after-school STEM club in Rhode Island, students are working on an engineering challenge. The low-stakes, fun environment offers time for exploration.
STEM Careers & Families: Learning from Centers and Museums
Read moreIn today’s fast-paced, entertainment-focused world, the very best museums do so much more than provide rainy day activities that engage in the moment but lead nowhere. These institutions lay the groundwork for long-term interest and persistence in STEM. In this case study, Drs. Kekelis and Sammet showcase the work of the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). These museums are engaging families in innovative ways and making career exploration an important piece of their mission.
