December 10th, 2019 | RESEARCH
This article describes the research and development of an NSF-funded, five-year experimental program to strengthen informal (out-of-school) STEM learning by youth in five rural communities. The central component of the model was a cadre of community members known as āSTEM Guidesā who were hired to work as brokers between youth and the STEM learning resources potentially available to them. These STEM Guides were respected adults with credible connections to youth, flexible schedules, the ability to travel within the community, and enthusiasm for identifying local STEM resources. The Guides were trained and supported by the project staff of an educational research and development non-profit, whose researchers studied the Guidesā experiences over several years as they reflected on the ways they could support youth to pursue STEM outside of school. This project was unusual in developing embedded rural residents to take a professional brokering role with youth aged 10ā18 throughout a region of several neighbouring towns, instead of relying on parents or teachers to provide such connections opportunistically and only for their own youth. Taking an ecosystems perspective, this article highlights some of the opportunities and challenges these STEM brokers faced as they tried to catalyze connections for youth in their communities.
Document
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Team Members
Sue Allen, Author, Maine Mathematics and Science AllianceKate Kastelein, Author, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
Jan Mokros, Author, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
Jennifer Atkinson, Author, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
Scott Byrd, Author, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
Citation
Identifier Type: DOI
Identifier: 10.1080/21548455.2019.1700317
Publication: International Journal of Science Education, Part B
Volume: 10
Number: 1
Page(s): 17-35
Funders
Funding Source: NSF
Funding Program: AISL
Award Number: 1322827
Funding Amount: $2,690,708
Related URLs
View Abstract
STEM Guides: Building Coherent Infrastructure in Rural Communities
Tags
Access and Inclusion: Rural
Audience: Elementary School Children (6-10) | Middle School Children (11-13) | Museum | ISE Professionals | Youth | Teen (up to 17)
Discipline: General STEM
Resource Type: Peer-reviewed article | Research Products
Environment Type: Community Outreach Programs | Professional Development | Conferences | Networks | Professional Development and Workshops | Public Programs | Resource Centers and Networks