Collaborative Research on Out-of-School-Time Science Programs for Youth: Qualitative Research and Longitudinal Survey Design

该项目将进行一项地图研究，以描述以科学为重点的课外时间(OST)计划的全国样本的背景、特点和做法，并确定供进一步研究的示范计划。实地研究将通过采访参与者、校友和其他利益相关者，并观察项目活动，寻求关于这些项目的更详细的知识。这些研究的结果将在项目结束时的一次工作会议上公布，讨论如何开发一种调查工具，以衡量OST方案的重要青年成果，并为预期的纵向研究收集基线数据。该项目将为校外科学学习的运作和实践提供新的描述性材料。它将产生一份文献综述，一份提供校外科学培训的组织名单，以及一份未来数据收集计划。将进行一项定性研究，以回答以下问题：OST的科学经验在多大程度上激发了人们的兴趣，或者更确切地说，是培养或维持了兴趣，以及这些成果如何适应终身学习和发展的更广泛背景。这项研究旨在创建一种新的青年OST科学计划类型，充分描述区分此类计划的关键特征。

The project will conduct a mapping study to describe the contexts, characteristics and practices of a national sample of science-focused Out-of-School Time (OST) programs and identify exemplar programs for further study. A Field Study will seek more detailed knowledge about these programs by interviewing participants, alumni, and other stakeholders, and observing program activities. The results of these studies will be presented at a working conference at the end of the project to discuss how to develop a survey instrument to measure important youth outcomes from OST programs and collect baseline data for an anticipated longitudinal study. This project will provide new descriptive materials about the operation and practice of the out of school learning of science. It will produce a literature review, a list of organizations that provide out of school science training and a plan for future data collection. A qualitative study will be conducted to answer questions such as to what extent OST science experiences spark interest or rather nurture or sustain it and how these outcomes fit within the broader context of lifelong learning and development. The study is intended to create a new typology of youth OST science programs that sufficiently describe crucial features that differentiate such programs.