RHODE ISLAND AFTERSCHOOL PLUS ALLIANCE 3/7/2014 WE ENVISION A RHODE ISLAND THAT MAXIMIZES HOW, WHEN, AND WHERE CHILDREN AND YOUTH LEARN TO ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS. Strengthening and Expanding Systems of Informal STEM Education in Rhode Island Proposal to the Noyce Foundation Visit our website: www.afterschoolri.org Follow us on Twitter: @afterschoolri.org 1 “Like” us on Facebook: facebook.com/afterschoolri Rhode Island STEM Survey 2013 76 Respondents 51 OST STEM Providers 30 STEMFocused Programs 3/7/2014 2 Rhode Island STEM Survey 2013 Where do these programs take place? When do these programs take place? School building Before school Community center 9% 7% 4% 4% 11% Recreation center 40% Faith-based organization University Cultural institution 22% 14% After school 7% Evenings 35% 27% Weekends 9% 8% Summers Business workplace Other 3/7/2014 School holidays 3 Rhode Island STEM Survey 2013 How do you collect data/evaluate your STEM programs? Other Outside partner evaluation Staff criteria-based evaluation Parent satisfaction evaluation Youth satisfaction evaluation Informal self assessment We do not evaluate our STEM programs. 0% 3/7/2014 20% 40% 60% 4 Rhode Island STEM Survey 2013 What are the most critical needs for your STEM offerings? Other Partnerships with STEM organizations Funding to support STEM offerings STEM curricula, resources, and activities Increased technology resources Increased youth interest 0% 3/7/2014 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Professional development for our staff in STEM 5 STEM Programming in Rhode Island Strengths • Robust STEM programming offered through individual community organizations and afterschool providers Challenges • Lack of connectivity and coordination among STEM programs and between formal and informal STEM education 3/7/2014 6 Our Planning and Vision VISION: Rhode Island STEM Planning Team 3/7/2014 Every school-age student in Rhode Island has access to high-quality STEM opportunities in their community during outof-school time. 7 STEM System-Building Goals Expand access to high-quality informal STEM learning for students at all grade levels Build momentum through a shared communications strategy Create a data collection and evaluation process Develop robust professional development opportunities for staff in afterschool programs 3/7/2014 8 Access Provide resources to expand high-quality STEM programming to: • New areas of the state • New populations of students in areas already served • Additional grade levels • Programs without a STEM focus 3/7/2014 Collaborate with schools and other STEM providers to: • Increase the focus on STEM learning • Identify existing informal STEM learning opportunities • Expand access to informal STEM learning opportunities 9 Evaluation Establish baseline results for measuring progress in program quality and system-building efforts. Integrate the STEM PQA into the process of the RIPQA evaluations that take place for 21st CCLC programs. Implement STEM PQA observations for High School ELOfor-credit projects and other OST programs. Monitor progress, make policy decisions, and hold staff accountable for performance outcomes. 3/7/2014 10 Communication Develop a shared communications strategy that will: 3/7/2014 • Position out-of-school time and informal learning as an education reform initiative • Help stakeholders and the public understand the importance of informal learning and of hands-on, experiential learning opportunities • Educate the public on informal STEM learning and its importance for youth development 11 Partners Current Current AMGEN Brown University Urban Education Program Center for Dynamic Learning DownCity Design F.I.R.S.T. Lego League of Rhode island FIRST Robotics Hasbro, Inc. RI Audubon Society RI Environmental Education Association RiverzEdge Arts Project Save the Bay School Districts: Providence, Cranston, Newport, Woonsocket, Pawtucket Trimix Foundation University of Rhode Island (SMILE) Highlander Institute New England Institute of Technology Providence After School Alliance Raytheon Rhode Island Department of Education Rhode Island STEM Center 3/7/2014 Potential Naval War College Northern RI Superintendents’ Association Rhode Island KIDS COUNT URI– 4-H Cooperative Extension 12