Social Media Drives Families and Child Collaboration With STEM Tool Kits

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Technology and Social Spaces (San Diego)

Abstract

The Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program was designed to facilitate Preschool children’s STEM learning through family interactions captured partly through social media. This investigation sought to explore how participation in the STEM Toolkit Program influenced parental perceptions and family behaviors around STEM outside of the school day. 50 children and their families participated in the program with parents responding to surveys about their perceptions and families posting their activities in a closed Facebook group. While perceptions of STEM confidence were high initially from parents, their behaviors on social media were generally not as active as we had anticipated. Recommendations for continued scaling of the program are discussed.

Authors

• Valentina Bongiovanni, University of North Florida

• Meghan Parkinson, University of North Florida

• Christian Winterbottom, University of North Florida

• Daniel Dinsmore, University of North Florida