Promising Practices

Assessment Tools in Informal Science (ATIS)

The goal of the ATIS website is to provide practitioners, evaluators, researchers and policy makers with the information to choose appropriate tools for assessing program quality and outcomes for children and youth. Find the right assessment tool to measure performance of informal and out-of-school science, technology, engineering and math programs. Search by age, type of assessment, what it measures (competence and reasoning, engagement and interest, attitude, career knowledge, etc.)

Campaign for Quality

The California Afterschool Network and California Department of Education have released several Campaign for Quality publications that seeks to promote continuous after school program quality improvement through assessment, planning, and connection to promising practices

Common Sense Media - Digital Education Resources

Date: 
May 4, 2012

Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization, is "dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology" ("Our Mission," n.d., para. 1). The non-profit organization offers free k-12 curriculum and tools for educators and parents to teach students to become responsible digital citizens.  Topics include cyber bullying, Internet safety, social media, and much more.

Frontiers in Urban Science Education Resource Guide: Strategies to advance informal science education in after-school

This document contains an overview of the Frontiers in Urban Science Education (FUSE) project implemented as part of the Collaborative for Building After School Science (CBASS) by The After School Corporation (TASC) in New York. The document outlines the overview of the strategies implemented and the lessons learned in bringing informal science education to scale in Out of School Time programs.

ITEST STEM in OST Assessment Tools

Date: 
May 3, 2012

The ITEST Learning Resource Center has compiled information on various instruments to help researchers, evaluators, and practitioners, identify and locate instruments used to assess learning and other related outcomes in STEM learning environments (ITEST 2012).

ITEST Database

 

Science After School: How to Design and Run Great Program Activities (TASC)

This guide for program leaders offers a framework and practical advice for creating and maintaining high-quality science learning program in out-of-school time sites.

Science in After School: A Blueprint for Action

This report addresses these needs and opportunities and lays out a blueprint for how to build a sustainable system of after school STEM opportunities at a scale that makes a difference for young people, their communities, and the nation. The blueprint highlights the need for STEM education in out-of-school time environments and offers a call to action. The blueprint also highlights successful out-of-school time models and curriculum.

STEM Lab Report

The STEM Lab Report which is a monthly series of articles and other media that shares research, insight and expertise and the critical importance of STEM education in early learning. They share monthly newsletters which highlight current research and promising practices in STEM education. Many of these newsletters contain interviews and podcasts.

Training of Out of School Staff Debated

Date: 
May 8, 2012

Out of school time (OST) programs have become an intregal part of many students' lives across the United States. In the last ten years, after-school programs have made huge strides in creating quality experiences for youth that reinforces what they are learning in the regular intructional day. Education Week looks at the benefits of having highly trained OST staff against the cost of investing time and money in employees who generally have a high turnover rate.