STEM Next in partnership with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation are continuing and expanding their STEM system building supports for all 50 statewide afterschool networks by providing ongoing professional learning opportunities. These opportunities are intended to support statewide afterschool networks in their efforts to promote high-quality and equitable STEM programming.
(The following opportunities are designed for state network leads and staff. Network partners are invited to join at the leads discretion.)
Techbridge Girls Webinars
Essential Elements for Equitable STEM ProgramsWebinar recording, presentation materials, Techbridge Girls Essential Elements framework and strategy guide can be found here.
Creating Culturally-Responsive STEM Programs
Tuesday, January 28 (3pm ET, 12pm PT)
Participants learn to develop and facilitate STEM activities that are culturally responsive to youth in their programs. Building strong cultural identities help youth feel confident and proud of themselves and the communities they live in. Grounding STEM learning in youth’s cultural identities helps youth make connections to how STEM relates to their lives and demonstrates how STEM can help solve problems in youths’ communities. In this interactive webinar, you will reflect on what you know about your youths’ identities and learn culturally-responsive strategies that will make STEM meaningful for ALL youth in your programs.
Primary Audience: Program providers and staff;
Secondary Audience: State Network Leads.
Implementing Inclusive & Accessible STEM Programs
Tuesday, March 10 (3pm ET, 12pm PT)
Participants learn equitable recruitment and facilitation strategies to ensure that all youth can meaningfully participate in STEM programs.
Creating Opportunities for Youth Empowerment in STEM
Wednesday, April 22 (3pm ET, 12pm PT)
Participants learn how to incorporate youth voice and choice into STEM activities and discuss ways to give youth leadership experiences during program.
Extensive STEM Career Exploration
Thursday, May 28 (3pm ET, 12pm PT)
Participants learn strategies to make STEM activities relevant to youth’s communities and connect STEM content to real-world careers.
PEAR Dimensions of Success (DoS) Certification
Are you looking to improve the STEM learning experience for children and youth? Are you looking for ways to support continuous improvement among your Network? If so, then the Dimensions of Success training is for you! The training process involves a two-day live webinar training, completion of video calibration exercises, a one-hour live calibration session, and successful completion of two practice observation in the field. PEAR staff offer live, webinar DoS trainings monthly and in-person training for state networks or organizations can be arranged as needed for an additional cost. PEAR staff provides ongoing technical assistance, quarterly data reports, and online data management support for all DoS observers for two years post-certification. Training is FREE and offered monthly. A reminder that trainings can close prior to the registration deadline if the session fills up so please register early. For private training arrangements, please see contact information below.
- January 22-23, 2020; (10am-4pm ET). Registration Deadline – January 14th.
- February 19-20, 2020; (10am-4pm ET). Registration Deadline – February 10th.
- March 18-19, 2020; (10am-4pm ET). Registration Deadline- March 9th.
Re-Certification Training for DoS Observers
Please note that observers that have been certified for two or more years need to complete re-certification to make sure they are continuing to use the tool reliably. January 15th, 2020; (12pm-4pm ET).
Registration Deadline – January 7th.
Framework Overview Training
The DoS Framework Overview Training provides an introduction to the DoS Framework for quality STEM programming. This 3-hour session is ideal for state network leads, program administrators, or funders seeking to better understand how to design and improve high-quality STEM learning experiences for youth. Suggestions for setting up a system for program quality including issues of data collection, outcomes and reporting will also be shared.
Watch the recording of the DoS Framework Overview Training to learn more about the 12 DoS dimensions (October 15th, 2019).
If you have any questions about DoS offerings please contact: Kristin Lewis Warner Klewis-Warner@mclean.harvard.edu and Tracy Callahan Tcallahan@mclean.harvard.edu.
STEM News To Know and Share with the Field
An Astronaut’s Guide to Improving STEM Education
In 1995, NASA astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris became the first African American to perform a spacewalk. In all, Dr. Harris ended up spending more than 18 days in space over two trips, traveling more than 7 million miles. Listen in to hear Dr. Harris thoughts about STEM education, space, and answers all your burning questions—like what space food really tastes like and what astronauts see when they’re up there.
How the Gender Gap in STEM Might Get its Start in Elementary School
On average, girls do as well as boys on elementary- and middle-school math tests. But by the time students enter the workforce, a big gender gap has emerged, with men earning nearly 80 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering and computer science. A new study offers evidence.
CSforALL Announces First Cohort of EcoSystemsforCS Awardees
CSforALL (Computer Science for ALL), with support from Schmidt Futures, is excited to announce the ten national EcoSystemforCS awardees. These ten communities across the United States represent the first national cohort of EcoSystemforCS with their varied and unique ideas that will enable change in implementation of high-quality, equitable CS.