September 1st, 2003 - August 31st, 2007 | PROJECT
The "Mentored Youth Building Employable Skills in Technology (MyBEST)" project, a collaboration of the Youth Science Center (YSC) and Learning Technology Center (LTC) at the Science Museum of Minnesota, is a three-year, youth-based proposal that seeks to engage 200 inner-city youngsters in learning experiences involving information and design technologies. The goal of the project is to develop participants' IT fluency coupled with work- and academic-related skills. The program will serve students in grades 7 through 12 with special emphasis on three underrepresented groups: girls, youngsters of color, and the economically disadvantaged. Project participants will receive 130 contact hours and 70% will receive at least 160 hours. Each project year, including summers, students participate in three seasons consisting of five two-week cycles. Project activities will center on an annual technology theme: design, engineering and invention; social and environmental systems; and networks and communication. The activities that constitute project seasons include guest presenter workshops; open labs facilitated by guest presenters, mentors and adult staff; presentations of student projects; career workshops and field trips. The project cycles feature programming (e.g., Logo computer language; Cricketalk), engineering and multi-media production (e.g., digital video; non-linear editing software). Each cycle will interface with an existing museum-related program (e.g., the NSF-funded traveling Cyborg exhibit). Mentors will work alongside participants in all technology-based activities. These mentors will be recruited from university, business, community partners and participant families. Leadership development is addressed through teamwork and in the form of internships and externships. Participants obtain work experience related to technology in the internship and externship component. The "MyBEST" project will serve as a prototype for the Museum to test the introduction of technology as central to the design and learning outcomes of its youth-based programs. An advisory board reflecting expertise in youth development, technology and informal science education will guide the program's development and plans for sustainability. Core elements of the "MyBEST" program will be integrated into the Museum's youth-based projects sponsored by the YSC and LTC departments. The Museum has a strong record of integrating prototype initiatives into long-standing programs.
Project Website(s)
(no project website provided)
Project Products
Final Evaluation Report for Mentored Youth Building Employable Skills in Technology (MYBEST)
Team Members
Keith Braafladt, Principal Investigator, Science Museum of MinnesotaKristen Murray, Co-Principal Investigator
Mary Ann Steiner, Former Co-Principal Investigator
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: ITEST
Award Number: 0323155
Funding Amount: 847819
Tags
Access and Inclusion: Ethnic | Racial | Urban | Women and Girls
Audience: Educators | Teachers | Middle School Children (11-13) | Museum | ISE Professionals | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: Computing and information science | Education and learning science | Engineering | Technology
Resource Type: Project Descriptions
Environment Type: Community Outreach Programs | Laboratory Programs | Professional Development | Conferences | Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Public Programs