Affinity Spaces for Informal Science Learning: Developing a Research Agenda

美国和英国的研究人员和实践者将由双城公共电视台组织，与来自印第安纳大学和英国布拉德福德大学的共同项目负责人合作，制定一项研究议程，重点是了解青年在各种在线环境（称为“亲和空间”）中的参与如何促进和实现非正式STEM学习的新方法。亲和性空间为青年提供了发展对特定主题的浓厚兴趣和参与的机会，并与具有共同兴趣的群体进行互动。通过关注亲和性空间，该项目将有助于集体理解数字媒体如何支持STEM学习。特别令人感兴趣的是这些空间提供多种兴趣驱动轨迹的潜力，与他人一起学习的机会，以及成为讨论中真正参与者的途径。具体而言，合作者将：(1)对亲和力空间和非正式科学学习进行文献综述；(2)组织召开为期两天的研讨会，回顾和完善初步研究问题；(3)撰写总结成果的白皮书。关联空间能够连接数百万学习者。制定一项研究议程，以了解这些空间如何使青年参与到STEM学科的整个领域的经验中来，有望揭示加强和丰富整个非正式科学学习生态系统的新方法。此外，该项目将通过促进美国和英国在社交媒体和学习前沿工作的研究人员之间的合作，加强国际研究和教育基础设施。该项目是美国国家科学基金会推进非正式STEM学习计划科学学习+ (SL+)的一部分。SL+是美国和英国基金会之间的合作伙伴关系。它资助的项目采取转型措施，告知、改进和推进非正式STEM学习经验和环境的知识基础、实践和设计。SL+的长期目标是扩大STEM的参与，更好地理解、加强和协调STEM参与和终身学习。

Researchers and practitioners in the US and the UK, organized by Twin Cities Public Television in collaboration with co-PIs from Indiana University and the University of Bradford in the UK, will develop a research agenda focused on understanding how participation by youth in various online environments, called "affinity spaces," can promote and enable new approaches to informal STEM learning. Affinity spaces provide opportunities for youth to develop deep interest and engagement in specific topics as well as to interact in groups with others who share common interests. By focusing on affinity spaces, this project will contribute to the collective understanding of how digital media supports STEM learning. Of particular interest is the potential of these spaces to offer multiple interest-driven trajectories, opportunities to learn with others, and paths toward becoming authentic participants in the discussions. Specifically, the collaborators will: (1) produce a literature review on affinity spaces and informal science learning; (2) organize and convene a two-day workshop to review and refine primary research questions; and (3) produce a white paper summarizing outcomes. Affinity spaces have the ability to connect millions of learners. Developing a research agenda to learn how these spaces can involve youth in experiences across the entire spectrum of STEM disciplines promises to reveal new ways to enhance and enrich the entire ecosystem of informal science learning. In addition, the project will enhance the international research and education infrastructure by facilitating collaborations among researchers in the U.S. and the UK who work at the frontiers of social media and learning. This project is funded as part of NSF's Advancing Informal STEM Learning program, Science Learning+ (SL+). SL+ is a partnership among US and UK foundations. It funds projects that take transformational steps to inform, improve, and advance the knowledge bases, practices, and design of informal STEM learning experiences and environments. The long-term SL+ goals are to broaden participation in STEM and to better understand, strengthen and coordinate STEM engagement and lifelong learning.