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Abstract The field of developmental science is increasingly interested in conducting research that is more representative, equitable, inclusive and generalizable. One way to achieve these aims is to conduct research that positions communities as key collaborators and central contributors to our scientific inquiries. These principles are evident in community science approaches like community‐based participatory research (CBPR) and participatory action research...

What if the environment could be transformed in culturally-responsive and inclusive ways to foster high-quality interactions and spark conversations that drive learning? In this article, we describe a new initiative accomplishing this, called Playful Learning Landscapes (PLL). PLL is an evidence-based initiative that blends findings from the science of learning with community-based participatory research to transform physical public spaces and...

Playful learning in public spaces can expand children’s access to enriching learning opportunities beyond formal educational settings, yet these opportunities remain unequally distributed across communities. The Playful Learning Landscapes initiative integrates community engagement with the science of learning to create playful learning opportunities in everyday public spaces. Although community engagement is central to this work, less is known about how...

Early STEM learning opportunities aligned with families’ funds of knowledge can produce meaningful learning experiences for children. We investigated Latina mothers’ perceptions and values of STEM learning, STEM-related activities with their children, and the early STEM learning experiences mothers designed for community spaces. In a researchpractice partnership, we conducted seven virtual co-design sessions with 32 caregivers and individual interviews with...

The extant literature suggests that human-centered approaches to design such as Participatory Design (PD) lend to more reusable and relevant design outputs, but often assumes this progression as an inevitable outcome of PD work. To investigate the factors contributing to this assumption, we document a comparative case analysis of the design processes of three studies centered on learning in communal...

Playful Learning Landscapes is a bold initiative that melds architectural design with the latest science in how children learn. Co-designing with community partners, public and shared spaces like bus stops, sidewalks, grocery stores and parks become launch pads for children and families to explore, question, and learn together through culturally relevant, accessible and equitable opportunities for all. Creating intergenerational family...

Playful Learning Landscapes (PLL) transforms everyday community spaces like parks, bus-stops, and grocery stores into conduits for caregiver-child interactions and early learning. During this workshop, attendees will visit a series of PLL installations in Santa Ana, CA, which were co-designed by researchers from UC Irvine and Temple University, and families from the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative, a local grassroots...

Overview of Research Insights: Our research-practice partnership (RPP) unites the Orange County EducationalAdvancement Network (OCEAN) at the University of California, Irvine’s School of Education with the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative (SAELI). Established in 2019, this partnership is grounded in our shared commitment to strengthening early childhood education through fostering equitable collaboration with parents and families. We engage parents as...

Children from underserved, minoritized, and immigrant families have less access to early out-of-school STEM learning opportunities. Playful Learning Landscapes increase the accessibility of early STEM learning in everyday public spaces (e.g., bus stops, grocery stores) by merging principles of guided play and STEM learning goals with local community's values. We used community-based design research to (1) identify Latine families’ funds...

Researchers can use a participatory design approach to produce sustainable interventions that leverage the cultural values and practices of ethnoculturally and linguistically diverse populations. PD is underutilized in developmental psychology, but can be a powerful tool for creating culturally situated interventions that bridge gaps in research applicability, inclusivity, and effectiveness. We provide our design narrative for creating grocery store signage...

This is a technical report for the project, "What Tastes Like Home?" This research project was a collaboration of the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and COSI’s Center for Research and Evaluation (CRE). The research investigated how visitors engaged with an interactive response wall in USBG's Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World exhibit, which invited visitors to leave their...

Ice Worlds: A Giant Screen Film and Outreach Project, is a documentary media project that invites public audiences to explore their connections to the Earth’s changing climate and their own identities as changemakers. Centered on a large format film for IMAX and other giant screens, the project seeks to engage audiences in media experiences and storytelling initiatives, including a special...

This is a short video showcasing the Ojibwe tradition of black ash basket making....

Exploring the Universe from Antarctica takes users on a journey from the South Pole into outer space in efforts to better understand high-energy neutrinos and the research that takes place surrounding them at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. Take the role of an IceCube scientist who has the ability to travel deep into space to seek out...

Embody an Antarctic Adelie Penguin in this National Science Foundation funded educational VR experience that aims to provide perspective on the challenges of everyday life of these animals. ...

On the Ice: Weather Station transports you to remote locations in Antarctica, where you are tasked with repairing a collection of weather stations. At each station, you’ll identify the components that are in disrepair, fix them in your mobile repair workshop, and then reinstall them. You’ll need to work quickly, though, to avoid getting stuck in a dangerous windstorm or...

In On the Ice: Hatched, you play as a novice wildlife biologist making your first visit to Ross Island in Antarctica to study Adélie penguins. Your daily research tasks, such as conducting population counts, placing identification bands, and removing GPS trackers can be challenging - especially when the penguins don’t cooperate. But don’t worry, you’ll have Margo, your trusted digital...

Empathy is important for fostering social engagement with ecology. In this study we describe Waddle, a virtual reality (VR) experience designed to facilitate the direct embodiment of an Adélie Penguin moving through the key stages of their life cycle as an intervention to increase empathy. By collecting pre and post questionnaire data from forty-three grade 3 through 8 students attending...

This study explores the role of explanatory narration, delivered as non-diegetic audio—in supporting conceptual understanding and long-term motivation in immersive virtual reality (VR). Building on an open-source VR simulation where users embody an Adélie penguin, we conducted a between-subjects experiment (N = 30) to examine how synchronized narration impacts learning outcomes, embodiment, and post-experience engagement. Participants performed four embodied tasks—waddling, nesting,...

Developed in collaboration with polar science experts, this virtual reality game immerses users in the life of a scientist maintaining weather stations in Antarctica. Designed for the Meta Quest 3, the game challenges players to complete realistic repair tasks reimagined as engaging tactile puzzles. As players tackle these challenges, a virtual assistant provides guidance, not only assisting with gameplay mechanics...

In this article, we review the literature highlighting early science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities in U.S. Latine family contexts. We describe and synthesize research on Latine families' STEM-related beliefs and practices (i.e., STEM activities and STEM talk), as well as patterns related to the research areas, methodologies, and theoretical foundations among STEM learning studies focused on U.S....

The Engaging Hispanic Communities in Authentic NASA Science: Broadening Participation in Science Activation through Local Partnerships and National Networks (“Co-creating with Communities”) project brought together educators, community members, and subject matter experts to connect STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) with local places and community assets. Collaborators at six locations worked together using co-creation and community engagement approaches to...

Using identity theory and drawing data from an NSF-funded survey of 1,134 participants, this study examines the impact of prior educational experiences on STEM identity and career aspirations among individuals attending at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The study’s findings indicate that although positive reinforcement positively correlates with the STEM identity construct, the efforts are not always supportive enough to predict...

A poster of initial findings of career interest for racially and ethnically minoritized youth presented as Association of Science-Technology Centers annual conference in Chicago, IL. Findings include participation rates in OST programs, STEM career pathways between the start of middle school and the start of college, barriers to participation in OST STEM experiences, and factors influencing STEM interest, and career...

This paper presents findings of a study which explored how family conversations beyond STEM content contribute to the development of STEM identity. Using structural equation modeling, we found that family disposition to engage in conversations about a broad range of topics was linked to more frequent STEM-related conversations during childhood and, in turn, greater identification as a “STEM person” in...