A Conference on Informal STEM Learning in Rural Settings

作为在非正式环境中加强学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习(AISL)计划为各种环境中使用的创新研究、方法和资源提供资金。一个经常被忽视但代表严重不足的STEM受众是生活在农村环境中的人。拟议中的会议是第一次将农村非正式STEM教育领域的主要创新者和专家聚集在一起，以解决这样一个问题：我们如何在最近的创新基础上，为农村社区的非正式STEM学习创造更有效和可扩展的途径？会议将主要集中于推进农村青年的非正式STEM教育，但也将包括一些跨越边界的参与者，从生态系统的角度看待这项工作：非正式-正规教育、儿童-成人教育、农村生态系统和STEM相关工作的经济驱动因素。临时议题清单将通过对与会者的会前调查加以完善，随后将提交一份报告，其中包括调查答复、会议讨论和与会者的最后建议。会议将在华盛顿特区举行，以使政策制定者能够出席。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program funds innovative research, approaches and resources for use in a variety of settings. A frequently overlooked but significantly under-represented STEM audience is people who live in rural settings. The proposed conference is the first of its kind to bring together key innovators and experts in rural Informal STEM education, to address this question: How can we build on recent innovations to create more effective and scalable pathways for informal STEM learning in rural communities?The conference will focus primarily on advancing informal STEM education for rural youth, but will also include some participants who cross boundaries, to situate the work in an ecosystem perspective: informal-formal education, childhood-adult education, rural ecosystems and economic drivers for STEM related jobs. The provisional list of topics will be refined through a pre-conference survey of participants, and will be followed with a report that includes survey responses, conference discussion, and final recommendations by participants. The conference will be held in Washington D.C. to enable policymakers to attend.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.