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城公共电视台与印第安纳大学和英国布拉德福德大学的联合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，即所谓的“亲和力空间”，可以促进和启用非正式STEM学习的新方法。亲和力空间为青年提供机会，培养对特定主题的浓厚兴趣和参与，并与其他有共同兴趣的人进行小组互动。通过关注亲和力空间，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，这些空间有可能提供多种兴趣驱动的轨迹、与他人学习的机会，以及成为讨论的真正参与者的途径。具体地说，合作者将：(1)编写关于亲和力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皮书。亲和力空间能够连接数以百万计的学习者。制定研究议程，了解这些空间如何让青年参与整个STEM学科的经历，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之间的合作来加强国际研究和教育基础设施，这些研究人员工作在社交媒体和学习的前沿。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的合作伙伴关系。它资助那些采取变革性步骤来告知、改进和推进非正式STEM学习经验和环境的知识库、实践和设计的项目。SL的长期目标是扩大对STEM的参与，并更好地了解、加强和协调STEM的参与和终身学习。

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.