Strategies: Acquainting Metro Atlanta Youth with STEM (AMAYS)

“让亚特兰大地铁青年了解STEM （AMAYS）”计划旨在让传统上服务不足的中学生参与基于绩效的相关体验，其中：(1)结合信息和通信技术（ICT）劳动力中所代表的STEM相关技能、知识和实践；(2)激励和培养参与者对追求相关ICT职业轨迹的兴趣。在五个站点的夏季和课后AMAYS项目中，参与者将创建ICT产品，为全州的ICT竞赛做准备。学生们将相互合作，并与来自企业和行业的导师合作，他们将通过与格鲁吉亚技术协会的合作伙伴关系招聘。该项目将通过亚特兰大的课后全明星项目实施，该项目将在佐治亚州亚特兰大市的多个地点与公立学校密切合作。AMAYS是一个基于设计的研究项目，涉及创建、实施和评估一个独特的信息通信技术丰富的非正式学习环境（ILE），该环境结合了文化相关教学法、非正式STEM学习和电脑游戏设计原则的使用。该项目将反复设计项目经验和资源，并调查项目在多大程度上：(1)积极影响参与者对STEM-ICT职业的看法和兴趣；(2)发展相关的学科知识和技能。预期结果将通过参与者科学思考能力的认知测量和参与者对领域/专业的亲和力的情感测量来评估。数据收集和分析的定性方法也将用于项目的形成性评价。研究成果和资源（包括课程和研究/评价工具）将广泛分发给教育研究人员和实践者。

The Acquainting Metro Atlanta Youth with STEM (AMAYS) program is designed to engage traditionally underserved middle-school students in performance-based relevant experiences that: (1) incorporate the STEM-related skills, knowledge and practices represented in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workforce and (2) motivate and build participant interest in pursuing related ICT career trajectories. In summer and afterschool AMAYS programs in five sites, participants will create ICT products as preparation for statewide ICT competitions. Students will collaborate with each other and with mentors from business and industry, who will be recruited through a partnership with the Technology Association of Georgia. The project will be implemented through the After-School All Stars program in Atlanta, which operates in multiple sites in the Atlanta, Georgia in close collaboration with the public schools.AMAYS is a design-based research project involving the creation, implementation and evaluation of a unique ICT-rich informal learning environment (ILE) that combines elements of culturally relevant pedagogy, informal STEM learning and the use of computer game design principles. The project will iteratively design program experiences and resources and investigate to what extent the project: (1) positively affects participant perceptions of and interest in STEM-ICT careers and (2) develops related disciplinary knowledge and skills. Intended outcomes will be assessed through cognitive measures of participant ability to think scientifically and affective measures of participant affinity for the field/profession. Qualitative methods for data collection and analysis will also be used for formative evaluation of the project. Research findings and resources (including curriculum and research/evaluation tools) will be broadly disseminated to educational researchers and practitioners.