Better Together: Opportunities, Challenges, and Outcomes of Formal and Informal Educator Collaborations

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Community-based organizations (CBOs) are being increasingly recognized for their role in partnering with schools to support positive outcomes for youth. There has been a surge in public investment in afterschool programming, particularly for underserved schools partnering with CBOs. Informal environments provide unique opportunities to spark students’ interests and engagement and support traditional classroom learning. While there are many venues and models for informal learning, few harness the potential of formal/informal educator collaborations. This symposium will present three different models of formal/informal educator collaborations in high-need, low resource expanded learning settings (from K-12 and middle school STEM-focused programs to K-2 literacy programs) from the perspectives of the program developers/implementers and evaluators to share successes, challenges, and lessons learned.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Informal Learning Environment Research

Chair

• Jennifer Negron, The Pinkerton Foundation

Papers

• A Randomized Controlled Trial of an After-School Science Program for Middle-Grade Students - Cheri L. Fancsali, Research Alliance for New York City Schools; Ben Schwab, Research Alliance for New York City Schools; Paulina Toro Isaza, Research Alliance for New York City Schools; Emma Banay, Expanded Schools

• Assessing the Impacts of a Collaborative Teaching Model on Students' Early Literacy Skills - Joel Nunez, ExpandED Schools; Kathryn Brohawn, ExpandED Schools, Inc.

• Assessing the Impacts of Collaborative Teaching and Planning in a Cross-City STEM-Focused Initiative - Lizzie Murchison, ExpandED Schools; Sabrina Gomez, ExpandED Schools

Discussant

• Jennifer Negron, The Pinkerton Foundation