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.
This site is designed to share results from the ITEST Convening: "Defining an Afterschool Research Agenda." Funded by the National Science Foundation, this three-day event was held June 9-11, 2010 in St. Paul at Science Museum of Minnesota. Together, convening attendees worked to craft a field-informed research agenda to identify gaps and clarify central questions regarding STEM workforce development in the afterschool environment. Read the Convening Full Report or Report Summary.
From Paul Tough and the Harlem Children's Zone to Promise Neighborhoods
Paul Tough, journalist and author, is chronicling a national movement, one made up of programs capable of delivering astounding results in the educational performance of children living in low income areas. His description of these programs left many education leaders clamoring to bring them to California.
This Education Week article documents a study from the Georgia Prevention Institute which found regular exercise in an after-school program helped sedentary, overweight children perform better on goal-oriented tasks. The exercise also seemed to improve math skills, an area of great concern for U.S. educators.
This article outlines the "STEM crisis" in the United States, identifies four key areas for potential reform, and outlines the current political environment in reforming education to meet the STEM challenge.
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).
The Harvard Graduate School of Education, as part of their Pathways to Prosperity Project, published earlier this month their thoughts on the "forgotten half" of our young adults ill prepared to succeed in today's labor market. To read the full report and learn more about the challenges and possible solutions click the link below
This report was released in September 2010 by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)—20 of the Nation’s leading scientists and engineers appointed by the President to provide advice on a range of topics—makes specific recommendations to better prepare America’s K-12 students in STEM subjects and also to inspire those students—including girls, minorities, and others underrepresented in STEM fields—to challenge themselves with STEM classes, engage in STEM activities outside the school classroom, and consider pursuing careers in those fields.
This report was released by the National Science Board in May 2010. This report offers a justification for identifying and developing the next generation of STEM innovators. It also creates three keystone recommendations to do so. Each keystone recommendations contain multiple recommendations for policy actions and a research agenda. The three keystone recommendations are
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.
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.
This article was written by Hays Blaine Lantz, Jr., Ed.D. in 2009. It contains a definition of STEM education. It provides an argument or justification for implementing STEM education, and outlines current barriers to this end. The article also provides a framework of what results STEM education should produce, the function of STEM education. As well as the form, or factors that may define quality STEM education.
"The goal of this study was to assess the value and feasibility of developing and implementing content standards for engineering education at the K-12 level. Content standards have been developed for three disciplines in STEM education--science, technology, and mathematic--but not for engineering.
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.
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.
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.