WHEN THE SCHOOL DAY ENDS …
Minds don’t go dormant; learning happens everywhere.
People, especially young people, are capable of learning in any environment. In fact, some of the most exciting, hands-on lessons can happen outside of the classroom. Out-of-school and summer school programs, at science halls, museums, cultural centers, libraries and community centers, are breeding grounds for sparking creativity and guiding learning progressions.
Join us in a review of research and stories from the field to best support Our Neighborhood in connecting with out of school and expanded education learning opportunities.
Research
Below is an on-going compilation of research that reviews the importance of exposure and access to expanded learning opportunities outside the school day. This is by no means an exhaustive list and we welcome additions to this collection (see submission information in the here).
STEM Careers + Families: Learning Centers and Museums
As part of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund’s Family Engagement Project, this case study features the family engagement work of the New York Hall of Science, NYSCI, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, OMSI. Both NYSCI and OMSI are innovation museums that help families better understand the connection between STEM in museums, in their homes and future career pathways.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Expanding Access and Inclusion in STEM through Culturally Responsive Family Engagement
Research shows that families are critical to the encouragement and navigation support of STEM learning for youth. Culturally responsive family engagement is especially important for program providers to consider in that it maximizes the strength and potential of all communities, most notably the populations most underrepresented in STEM fields. Culturally responsive programs respect cultural differences of families across race, language, geography, religion and nationality.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Family Engagement: Taking it to the Next Level
As part of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund’s Family Engagement Project, this case study features the Greene Scholars Program and Digital Youth Divas as programs doing exceptional family engagement work. The study focuses on the following four areas highlighted in the programs that make for successful family engagement efforts.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Set a Place at the STEM Table for Youth with Disabilities and their families
As part of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund’s Family Engagement Project, this case study features out of school time programs that offer STEM programs for youth and their families. The study points out that very out of school opportunities exist for students and even less offer strong family engagement efforts.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Changing the Game in STEM with Family Engagement: A White Paper for Practitioners and Field Leaders to Empower Families in STEM
As part of STEM Next Opportunity Fund’s Family Engagement Project, this white paper was released to support leaders in the field to best connect with families. The paper reviews promising STEM opportunities for children and their families, in addition to offering recommendations to make such opportunities more inclusive.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Current Issues in Out-of-School Time. ( A Series of Books)
A series of books published looking into the current issues in the out-of-school space. Content includes both research and promising practices.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Families in the Driver’s Seat: Parent-driven Lessons and Guidelines for Collective Engagement.
This comprehensive report and ready-to-use curriculum for family engagement was created by the Equitable Parent–School Collaboration Research Project at the University of Washington. With a train the trainer model, the curriculum works to build authentic parent and family engagement to improve student outcomes and success.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
GENIAL: Generating Engagement and New Initiatives for all Latinos
Learning from a two-day conference to best support Latinx students in informal science environments. Organizations must take risks beyond their status quo, which includes better supporting diverse staff members serving students in informal environments.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Data Inquiry for Equitable Collaboration: The Case of Neighborhood House’s Data Carousel
This study acknowledges the traditional role that data collection has played as a vehicle for demonstrating compliance, in addition it a new, meaningful role that it can play when collection efforts are approached collaboratively with families.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Building Relationships, Bridging Cultures: Cultural Brokering in Family Engagement
Research around the important role of “cultural brokers” play between families and schools. Cultural brokers serve as bridges and translators between family and schools and can adopt strategies for building parent and family capacity.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Breaking Down Barriers Between Educators and Families Through Technology
Technology can play a powerful role in connecting families, students and educators and thought and effort must be placed into developing accessible communications vehicles and strategies. Technology can be especially useful at breaking down barriers for immigrant families as the author recounts their own education experience.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Joining Together to Create a Bold Vision for Next Generation Family Engagement Engaging Families to Transform Education
This paper is intended to stimulate work that can result in “next generation family engagement” that involves aligned, strategic and systemic approaches to family and community engagement from a child’s birth to young adulthood.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Children and Parents Learning Side-by-Side to Acquire STEM Knowledge: A Case Study of the Chicago Pre-College Science and Engineering Program
Case study on the Chi S&E program, recruiting parents and families on Saturdays to learn and apply science, technology, engineering and math side by side with their student. The program demonstrates a family engagement model that leads to improved student achievement, and the building of institutional / systems capacity among all key stakeholders.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Expanding Access and Inclusion in STEM through Culturally Responsive Family Engagement
Girls and youth of color must have roles as creators of technology, and not just its consumers. In order for this to happen, all stakeholders, including out-of-school leaders, must be engaged.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Crossing the Boundaries: Mapping the Gaps between Expert and Public Understandings of Bridging STEM Learning Environments
Children learn STEM in both formal and informal environments, with the most effective learning resulting from experiences that involve connections across various environments and collaborations among formal and informal institutions.
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Read the Annotated Bibliography
Stories from the Field & Practical Tips
We hope you enjoy stories from the many community based organizations and cultural centers who shared with us. This is by no means an exhaustive list of tips and we welcome additions to this collection (see submission information here).
STEM Ready America: Inspiring and Preparing Students for Success with Afterschool and Summer Learning
With flexible and fun learning environments, expanded education opportunities keep students sharp and excited about learning. They also help to eliminate learning gaps over the course of a child’s life. The Compendium shares stories from the field to inspire powerful expanded education programs in your community.
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A Presentation – The Road to STEM Careers Runs Through Science Fair
The Society for Science and the Public shows how science fairs can be an important community-based tool to engage students and families in STEM.
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The Living IDEABOOK
The Global Family Research Project has transformed the Ideabook: Libraries for Families into a living, digital compilation of research-based frameworks, practical tips and new ideas for public libraries, families and the greater community.
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In Constant Communication
Queens, NY is the most ethnically diverse urban areas in the world, with as many as 800 languages spoken. Communication is key in this ecosystem’s quest to engage families.
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Got STEM? Families are Key as students head back to school
The blog acknowledges the achievement gaps that exist for students that don’t have access to summer and afterschool opportunities. STEM Next Opportunity Fund gives four easy tips to support families in connecting to STEM opportunities within the community.
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Community Science Celebrations Appeal to All Ages
British Columbia’s ecosystem taps into the youthful enthusiasm of the community to bring families into the STEAM arena. Symbiosis sparks a family’s interest by using fun and celebration.
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Transforming STEM Education Access Challenges into Amazing Opportunities for Youth and Families
Family Engagement Panel by Louisiana based organizations at the Spring 2019 STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice Convening in New Orleans, LA in April 2019. This panel showcased lessons learned from expanded education and post-secondary training programs in New Orleans and Baton Rouge working with vulnerable and/or underserved populations.
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Serious Play: Innovative Early Childhood STEM as a Priority in Louisiana Children’s Museums
A panel of leaders from children’s museums and science centers in Louisiana and New Mexico discuss how they use play to engage families and build awareness around STEM from early ages. Each organization - Explora from STEM-NM, the Sci-Port Discovery Center, and Knock Knock Children’s Museum - presents an overview of work, a hands on activity that families in their home communities complete together and a gallery walk activity for session participants with six questions and prompts.
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‘It Takes a Village’ is More Than a Saying
Families must be deeply engaged to ensure students’ success
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Playing cards, string and a never-ending commitment to family engagement
This ecosystem has discovered multiple creative solutions to bring STEM closer to families. Communication guides, at home activities and access to STEM career pathways are empowering families in greater Cincinnati.
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Transforming Headlines
Chicago’s ecosystem is developing cradle to career STEM experiences and opportunities in a neighborhood once considered a STEM desert. Leveraging trusted, local organizations and word of mouth, the Austin community is buzzing with STEM.
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Remake Learning, Pennsylvania – Building public awareness with constant,consistent messaging
The leaders of Remake Learning of Pittsburgh are active in posting regularly about the work of the ecosystem and their members. Publications are always available.
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Ecosystem Leader, LaTrenda Leonard Sherrill, shares communication tips ON a STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice Webinar.
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