Creating A Community Of Practice Around A Proven Teen Science Cafe Model

这个广泛的实施项目将创建一个专业的网络和实践社区，用于实施青少年咖啡馆，让高中青少年参与STEM。 让成年人参与科学的“科学咖啡馆”模式已证明非常有效，并得到广泛实施。这个项目建立在一个新的成功模式，青少年咖啡馆实施了过去五年在新墨西哥州（NSF奖0714762）。 在5年内，该模式将在全国8个不同的地区推广，特别是在青少年人数不足的地区。 核心合作伙伴包括新墨西哥州的科学教育解决方案、南伊利诺伊大学爱德华兹维尔分校、佛罗里达青少年SciCafe伙伴关系、北卡罗来纳州自然科学博物馆和科罗拉多大学的科学发现。该项目将通过鼓励和培养希望启动咖啡馆项目并加入网络的其他人，为广泛的伊势和STEM社区建立能力。 评估将研究当地青少年咖啡馆网站以及国家网络的影响。对当地咖啡馆地点的评估将分析在建立当地咖啡馆时面临的挑战和机遇以及如何应对这些挑战和机遇;国家网络的资源和支持如何满足当地需求;以及当地适应如何影响青少年和专业观众的结果。 对国家网络的评价侧重于促进各场址之间的沟通和管理的进程;向各场址提供的资源的效用;以及同业交流圈的可持续性。

This broad implementation project will create a professional network and community of practice for implementing Teen Cafes that engage high school teens in STEM. The Café Scientifique model for engaging adults in science has proven very effective and has been widely implemented. This project builds on a new successful model for Teen Cafes implemented over the past five years in New Mexico (NSF award 0714762). Over 5 years the model will be scaled up in eight diverse regions across the country focusing particularly where there are large numbers of underrepresented teens. Core partners include Science Education Solutions in New Mexico; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; the Florida Teen SciCafe Partnership; North Carolina Museum of Natural Science; and Science Discovery at the University of Colorado.The project will build capacity for a broad range of ISE and STEM communities by encouraging and nurturing others wishing to start a Café program and join the network. The evaluation will study the impacts of both the local Teen Café sites as well as the national network. The evaluation of the local Café sites will analyze the challenges and opportunities when setting up local Cafes and how they are addressed; how well the national network's resources and support meet local needs; and how local adaptations affect outcomes for teens and professional audiences. The evaluation of the national network focuses on the processes for facilitating communication and management across the sites; the usefulness of the resources provided to sites; and the sustainability of the community of practice.