Through these role model videos, professionals' real world views and application of math show high school students just how relevant math is to their futures. Filmed on location, professionals tell students about how they use math in their careers and what math meant to them in high school. The role model videos are an important aspect of the"Scaling Up STEM Learning with the VCL" model. Teacher participants in this ITEST project were required to screen videos from this resource and engage their students in discussion about real world use of math and potential interest in STEM occupations. The

This paper aims to share EDC’s learnings from developing and implementing this method including addressing issues of trust between youth and adult team members, appropriately acknowledging youth contributions, balancing the roles of mentors and adult design partners, and making dynamic curriculum adjustments based on participants learning styles and skill levels.

For at least the past 100 years science educators have been concerned about how best to encourage children’s natural interests in science; but the problem of waning interest through the middle school and high school years persists. Research on how best to maintain interest in what is now more broadly conceived of as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is more important than ever. These studies can be categorized as deductive research that begin with theories of action and lead to interventions to be tested; or inductive studies that begin with existing programs, and lead

Drawing on a multi-year research and development program, the authors report on the promise of integrating locally-focused student investigations with ubiquitous access to advanced technologies. By doing this, students are better able to see the relevance of STEM skills and knowledge as they work to improve their local communities. Specific program examples cited show the paradigm as it has been implemented with upper elementary and middle school students. Contrasting examples show challenges in implementation. A four-part framework of essential program elements is offered to guide further

In this white paper we describe youth engagement in cyber-rich science in a community setting, involving both knowledge/practice development and identity work through scientifically rigorous, culturally responsive, and generative activities.

In this white paper we describe a project underway at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education in which we are designing innovative technological environments that draw from theories of motivation to support and augment the engagement and motivation of students in Grades 5-8 mathematics.

Insights from the COMPUGIRLS project have provided significant evidence that lack of motivation is a misrepresentation of our girls’ lived experience.

An ongoing and at times seemingly intractable issue in science education and STEM fields is the underperformance and underrepresentation of marginalized youth. This is often attributed to disconnect between school in general, school science specifically and the cultures that youth enact and experience in their daily lives. Although research demonstrates that youth become engaged in STEM when it is relevant to their well-being and that of their community, the question of what motivates underrepresented youth to pursue STEM interests is still not fully understood. This white paper argues for

The ITEST Youth Convening Team has compiled a bibliography of publications addressing issues in the youth motivation and STEM fields. The intent of this bibliography is to reference background materials that provide rich context for an examination of youth motivation and STEM, as well as to identify topical research and other resources that can inform the effort to define a new research agenda. The selected resources include articles in peer-reviewed journals, evaluation reports, research summaries, government-issued reports, books, commissioned white papers, issue briefs, best practices

The Fun Works is a digital library of STEM career development information designed BY middle school students FOR middle school students. It provides easily accessible on-line career development resources and offer interactive services to help diverse populations of middle school students investigate STEM careers in a stimulating on-line environment.