Studying and Improving Networks for Disseminating STEM Educational Materials in After-School Programs

DRL - 0917536学习和改善网络传播干教育手段，芭芭拉M。 本项目的目的是利用社会网络的方法来研究课外和非正式的科学利益相关者的网络。它将试图创造知识，改善课外活动获得非正式的科学学习材料。 这是一项应用研究，将研究方法应用于改善各种环境中非正式科学教育计划的获取和制定。调查人员计划从加州的600个社区和课后项目中收集数据，对其中10个项目进行案例研究，并对支持中介组织进行调查。数据的分析将提供的持续时间，强度和性质的网络之间的课外活动和中介机构，以及科学学习材料在课外活动的扩散模式的描述。该项目将产生可操作的知识，这些知识将在课后计划，中介组织，资助机构和政策制定者之间传播，以改善课后科学学习机会的传播和支持。该项目的重点是自由选择的环境，每天有最多的儿童在学校和其他社区环境中参加课外活动。 它寻求有关非正式科学项目对这些环境中尽可能多的儿童产生重大影响的必要条件的信息。

DRL - 0917536 Studying and Improving Networks for Disseminating STEM Education Means, Barbara M. SRI InternationalPROJECT SUMMARYThe intent of this project is to use social network methods to study networks of afterschool and informal science stakeholders. It would attempt to create knowledge that improves afterschool programs access to informal science learning materials. This is an applied research study that applies research methods to improving access to and enactment of informal science education programs across a range of settings. The investigators plan to collect data from 600 community- and afterschool programs in California, conduct case studies of 10 of these programs, and conduct surveys of supporting intermediary organizations. The analysis of the data will provide descriptions of the duration, intensity, and nature of the networks among afterschool programs and intermediary agencies, and the diffusion patterns of science learning materials in afterschool programs. The project will yield actionable knowledge that will be disseminated among afterschool programs, intermediary organizations, funding agencies, and policymakers to improve the dissemination and support of afterschool science learning opportunities. The project is focused on free-choice settings where every day the largest numbers of children attend afterschool programs at schools and in other community settings. It seeks information about what conditions are necessary for informal science programs to significantly impact the largest possible number of children in these settings.