Building Staff Capacity: After-School Program Staff Learning and Teaching STEM

• In Event: Informal Settings as Spaces for Teacher Development

Abstract

After-school staff members vary widely in education and work experience. In youth development, mobility among staff is high, employment is often part-time, and training opportunities are infrequent. These factors can make it challenging for after-school staff to teach STEM-focused curricula. This research used a mixed-methods approach to explore how growth in staff capacity affected the implementation of a computer science program for middle school girls. We examine both changes at the individual staff level and the organizational level using qualitative data from staff interviews, observations, and staff activity logs correlated with quantitative data documenting girls’ learning and attitudes toward STEM. Our findings suggest that after-school staff and their organizations can competently provide STEM curriculum given appropriate materials, training, and support.

Authors

• Torie Gorges, SRI International

• Melissa J. Koch, SRI International

• Reina Fujii, SRI International

• Eric B. Snow, SRI International

• Christopher J. Harris, SRI International