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.
Every Hour Counts STEM Institute: A message from Ron
Read moreOn January 12 and 13th I had the pleasure of joining STEM leaders from seven cities in Nashville Tennessee for the Every Hour Counts STEM Institute. There I witnessed some of the deepest work I have seen focused on preparing cross sector teams of STEM educators to interweave the development of scientific practice as required by the Next Generation Science Standards with social emotional learning strategies in their teaching both in and out of school. To envision this is one thing, but to do it is another thing entirely! Cary Sneider, a professor at Portland State University, member of…
Focus Moves to States to Advance STEM in Out-of-School Time
Read moreThe new Every Student Succeeds Act moves states to the forefront on education policy and resource allocation. Taking advantage of the moment, the Overdeck Family Foundation is supporting the Afterschool Alliance and STEM Education Coalition to lead a multi-state initiative equipping the Mott Statewide Afterschool Networks to advance policy at the state level favorable to high-quality STEM learning in out-of-school time (OST) settings.The initiative is providing policy updates; sharing advocacy resources for afterschool/informal STEM to participate in state ESSA plan development; and brokering partnerships between members of the STEM Education Coalition and state-based afterschool advocates.In addition, six statewide networks…
Collaborations Power Computer Science Education
Read moreHappy Computer Science Education Week! Maybe you had the chance to join one of the 155,000+ CS Ed Week/Hour of Code events worldwide? Undoubtedly, 2016 has been a significant year for expanding computer science education. In the US: The Association for Computing Machinery, Code.org, the Computer Science Teachers Association, the Cyber Innovation Center, and the National Math and Science Initiative collaborated with states, districts, and the computer science education community to develop and launch the new K–12 Computer Science Framework. In fall 2016, the College Board launched its newest AP® course Computer Science Principles. In developmentsince 2008 with support from the…
Upcoming Events. Sign Me Up.
Read moreMon., Dec. 5, 2016 - Noon ET, 9:00 AM PT - Twitter chat.Join a twitter chat hosted by the National Girls Collaborative Project. Topic: Gender Equity in Coding: How do we get there? #CrackTheCode.Dec. 5-11, 2016 - On-line learning.Try and Hour of Code. Hosted by Computer Science Education Week.Wed., Dec. 7, 2016, 2:00 PM ET, 11:00 AM PT - Twitter chatJoin a twitter chat hosted by Afterschool Alliance (@afterschool4all) and the National AfterSchool Association (@NatlAfterSchool) #afterschoolCS. Topic: Computer science in OST.Mon., Dec. 12, 2016, 2:00-3:00 PM ET - Web SeminarLearning Heroes 2016 Parent Research Insights: Presented by Learning Heroes to review key findings from…
A Success Story
Read moreIn October, ExpandED Schools and the Pinkerton Foundation jointly released a brief entitled From Meeting to Impact: How One Foundation’s Investment of $25,000 Spurred Large-Scale Collaboration. The brief tells the story of how the Pinkerton Foundation’s early investment in the NYC STEM Network has led to large public and private investments in the member organizations as well as long-lasting relationships between cultural institutions, educators and youth-serving non-profit organizations in New York City. ExpandEd Schools and Pinkerton share lessons learned, including deep understanding of each others’ roles; and the realization that sharing ownership, sharing ideas and sharing investment responsibilities often…
- By STEM Next in Opinion on
Ron Ottinger Addresses the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
Read moreBy U.S. Government , via Wikimedia Commons STEM Next Director Ron Ottinger was fortunate to be invited to address the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) in Washington DC on November 17. Joining Ron on the panel were Eric Friedlander, University of Southern California; Talia Milgrom-Elcott, 100Kin10; and Marcus Lingenfelter, National Math & Science Initiative.Ron’s address was an opportunity for STEM Next to reflect on the progress that PCAST and President Barack Obama have inspired over the past eight years and to underscore our commitment to ensuring that all young people have opportunities to develop the…
Every Hour Counts Announces Grant Recipients
Read moreImage credit: Every Hour CountsIn October, with support from STEM Next, Every Hour Counts announced that After School Matters (Chicago), the Family League of Baltimore, Nashville After Zone Alliance and Prime Time Palm Beach County will receive grants to support collaborative planning and teaching for out-of-school and in-school educators on the Next Generation Science Standards. These three citywide intermediaries join ExpandED Schools (NYC), Boston After School & Beyond and the in the Frontiers in Urban Science Education (FUSE) project. Launched with Noyce Foundation support in 2014, FUSE published a resource guide of strategies to advance informal science education in after-school programs. These…
Another Case for Collaboration
Read moreThe new journal Connected Science Learning just released its second issue with a focus on professional development partnerships between in-school and out-of-school STEM educators.Connected Science Learning is a joint effort between the National Science Teachers Association and the Association of Science and Technology Centers. The new issue profiles professional learning experiences involving teachers and informal STEM educators at the New York Hall of Science, the Exploratorium in San Francisco, and the Summer Herpetology Fieldwork program at the University of North Carolina/Greensboro. Key themes include the importance of active learning; recognizing teachers’ prior knowledge and expertise; providing financial and other…
Advancing State Policy for STEM Afterschool
Read moreAll are closely watching to see what the change in Administration will mean for the federal government’s role in STEM education and what kinds of responses will be needed from the education community. We already know, however, that the recent passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act devolves significant decision-making to the states and districts. Because of this, STEM Next applauds a timely new initiative funded by the Overdeck Family Foundation to equip statewide afterschool networks with the capacity to advance afterschool STEM learning opportunities at the state level. The afterschool networks, built through the sustained support, vision and…
How Art Motivates STEM Learning
Read morePhoto credit: NAANoting how often skilled scientists are also artists and vice versa, Andy Allan of the National Afterschool Association pens a thoughtful article, How Art Motivates STEM Learning, about moving from STEM to STEAM with the addition of a focus on art – noting that “the word art is used to represent the full spectrum of the liberal arts: language, social studies, physical art, fine art, music, and design.” Why is it important to focus on STEAM? Allan offers two key reasons: first, the creative processes behind art can be used to drive innovation and find inventive…
