69.056-2 - Laying the Groundwork for a STEM Ecosystem

• In Event: 69.056 - Roundtable Session 31

Session Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

In the education field, an ecosystem is an interconnected web of people and resources striving toward a shared goal. A large national initiative is leveraging the ecosystem approach to address the paucity of high quality science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities, both in and out of school, for all learners “K to gray”. In this symposia, local ecosystems use survey and interview data to illustrate their approaches to pressing STEM education issues, the effectiveness of their chosen approaches to these issues, and challenges encountered while developing an ecosystem. Researchers studying the national initiative draw on 30 interviews with ecosystem members, funders, and technical assistance providers to identify cross-cutting factors that influence the design and development of STEM ecosystems.

Sub Unit

• Division L - Educational Policies and Politics / Division L - Section 9: Policy Implementation and Going to Scale

Chair

• Femi Vance, University of San Diego

Papers

• Developing a Recipe for Success: Critical Factors for Developing a STEM Ecosystem - Femi Vance, University of San Diego

• Getting Everyone to the Table: Cross-Sector Partnerships in a STEM Ecosystem - Katherine Joy Nilsen, University of San Diego

• Building the Capacity of Educators to Improve STEM Education - Joseph A Gardella, SUNY - Buffalo

• Creating Authentic Opportunities for Parents to Partner With Informal STEM Educators - Andres Henriquez, New York Hall of Science

• Math as the Gateway to STEM Careers - Xan Black