Final Summative Evaluation of Collaborative Research: Promoting Engagement in Informal STEM Learning as a Path to Employment for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This is the final summative evaluation for our project, entitled Collaborative Research: Promoting Engagement in Informal STEM Learning as a Path to Employment for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (NSF AISL 2005772 & 2005729). It was written by Drs. Meagan Henry and Ariana Riccio Arista of the Education Development Center. It summarizes EDC’s evaluation of NSF-funded Game Design and Employment Workshops. Reflections across all three years of workshop implementation are
incorporated throughout the report with an emphasis placed on summative findings and recommendations following Year 3. While each year of evaluation data for the workshops cannot be directly compared due to curriculum iteration and staffing changes, the report provides an overview of how the workshops evolved and lessons learned.