STEM Out-of-School-Time Summative Evaluation Report

From 2014-2016, Pacific Science Center continued and expanded the Science Technology Engineering and Math Out-of-School-Time (STEM-OST) program with the purpose of delivering programs to stem the summer learning loss. Specifically, the project expanded to new venues in the Puget Sound (Washington) region; modified the lessons and activities so they also served students in grades K-2; aligned the curriculum with the Next Generation Science Standards (recently adopted by the Washington State Legislature) and increased the number of Family Science Days and Family Science Workshops offered to enhance parent involvement in STEM learning. The mentorship model of program delivery was also expanded to include college volunteer interns along with teen interns and staff educators. Outcomes for the three classes of participants (students, parents/caregivers, and interns) ranged from increasing knowledge and understanding, to increasing interest, as well as growing skills and the extent to which those outcomes were achieved is detailed in this summative evaluation report.