Affinity Spaces for Informal Science Learning: Developing a Research Agenda

美国和英国的研究人员和实践者，由双子城公共电视台与来自印第安纳州大学和英国布拉德福德大学的合作PI合作组织，将制定一项研究议程，重点是了解青年如何参与各种在线环境，称为“亲和空间”，可以促进和实现非正式STEM学习的新方法。亲和空间为青年人提供机会，使他们对特定主题产生浓厚的兴趣和参与，并与有共同兴趣的其他人进行小组互动。 通过关注亲和空间，该项目将有助于对数字媒体如何支持STEM学习的集体理解。特别令人感兴趣的是，这些空间有可能提供多种兴趣驱动的轨迹，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）编写关于亲和空间和非正式科学学习的文献综述;（2）组织和召开为期两天的研讨会，审查和完善主要研究问题;（3）编写一份总结成果的白色文件。Affinity Spaces有能力连接数百万学习者。制定研究议程，了解这些空间如何让青年参与整个STEM学科的经验，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研究人员在社交媒体和学习前沿的合作，加强国际研究和教育基础设施。该项目是作为NSF的推进非正式STEM学习计划的一部分，科学学习+（SL+）。SL+是美国和英国基金会的合作伙伴。它资助采取转型步骤的项目，以告知，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+的长期目标是扩大对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.