Collaborative Research: WAVES - A STEM-Powered Youth News Network for the Nation

作为加强非正式环境中学习的整体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划资助研究和创新资源，用于各种环境。这个媒体和技术项目将通过青年驱动的多媒体新闻和使用麻省理工学院App Inventor的相关应用程序开发，扩大青年电台的STEM教育模式。 一个新的青年新闻网（YNN）将使用以前开发和验证的STEM课程，在全国范围内建立一个青年记者和教育工作者的支线系统。 以往的研究和评价表明，这一模式可以吸引得不到充分服务的青年参与，并使他们在技术创新中处于领导地位。 主要交付成果包括YNN STEM Desk，每年将制作15-20个STEM相关故事; bootcamp（1-3天的研讨会）培训全国各地的年轻人，重点是应用程序开发和媒体链接;以及新的工具包，提供资源以帮助应用程序开发，数据分析和其他STEM特定技能。 项目合作伙伴包括麻省理工学院媒体实验室、国家公共广播电台、百思买的青少年技术中心、国家写作项目、计算机俱乐部和PBS学习媒体等。在过去的八年里，研究和评估结果被用来完善该项目。 这些数据是这一扩大项目的基础。由调查员和驻校学者进行的研究在这种规模扩大使用嵌入式人种学方法，结合现场笔记，记录会议和讨论，媒体文物等。数据被转录和编码为STEM学习和关键计算素养的指标。 外部总结性评价将建立在关于这种独特模式如何吸引青年并影响他们在STEM相关媒体和技术方面的技能的先前证据的基础上。

As a part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program funds research and innovative resources for use in a variety of settings. This media and technology project will scale up Youth Radio's proven model of STEM education through youth-driven multimedia journalism and related app development using the MIT App Inventor. A new Youth News Network (YNN) will implement a nationwide feeder system of youth reporters and educators using the previously developed and proven STEM curriculum. Previous research and evaluation has demonstrated that this model can engage underserved youth and put them in leadership positions in technological innovation. Key deliverables include the YNN STEM Desk that will produce 15-20 STEM-related stories each year; bootcamps (1-3 day workshops) training youth around the country focusing on app development and media links; and new toolkits providing resources to help with app development, data analysis and other STEM-specific skills. Project partners include MIT Media Lab, National Public Radio, Best Buy's Teen Tech Centers, National Writing Project, Computer Clubhouses, and PBS Learning Media among others.Over the previous eight years, research and evaluation findings had been used to refine the project. These data served as the foundation for this scale-up project. The research conducted by the investigator and the Scholar-in-Residence in this scale-up uses an embedded ethnographic approach that combines field notes, recorded meetings and discussions, media artifacts, etc.--data that is transcribed and coded for indicators of STEM learning and critical computational literacy. The external summative evaluation will build on prior evidence regarding how this unique model engages youth and impacts their skills in STEM related media and technology.