Afterschool programs play a major role in providing meaningful science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning experiences to diverse groups of youth.
These subjects help students succeed in school and prepare them for careers that are driving global economic growth.
The Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance (KYOSA), in partnership with the Million Girls Moonshot initiative, will fund mini-grants to help support summer programs in their efforts to engage more students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Programs will need to form collaborative partnerships with STEM partners and institutions in Kentucky in an effort to engage underrepresented student populations (female, students of color, students experiencing poverty, students living in rural communities, students with special needs) during the summer months.
Our Summer of STEM Mini-Grant 2023 Application is now closed.
Nationwide, states and schools are engaging diverse partners like afterschool programs, libraries, museums, universities, and businesses to ensure that students have access to high-quality STEM education. By fully utilizing the hours outside of school, and taking an all hands on deck approach to maximize collective impact, we can ensure that our students are prepared for the future. Afterschool and summer programs spark learning and ignite interest by letting youth experiment with STEM ideas in real-world situations.
KYOSA is proud to be part of the Million Girls Moonshot. The Intel Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation have joined STEM Next Opportunity Fund and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to launch the Million Girls Moonshot. The effort is designed to engage 1 million school-age girls in the United States in STEM learning opportunities over the next five years. The organizations will provide grant funding and in-kind resources to Mott-funded afterschool networks in all 50 states to increase access to hands-on, immersive STEM learning experiences.
Explore our resources for all things STEM and Afterschool!
- Engineering Mindset One of the primary goals of engineering education is to promote development of an engineering mindset. An engineering mindset refers to the values, attitudes, and thinking skills associated with engineering.
- Equity and Inclusion Framework This Initiative will benefit all students, improving the overall quality of all afterschool STEM opportunities and lifting up both boys and girls as they become future innovators.
- Family Engagement Research shows that parents are one of the biggest influences on youth interest and persistence in STEM.
- Role Models and Mentors This guide is designed to help you recruit and prepare role models to inspire girls in science, technology, and engineering. We outline our “recipe for success” for role models and provide tips for training.
- STEM Transitions and Pathways Brokering Youth Pathways was created to share tools and techniques around the youth development practice of “brokering” or connecting youth to future learning opportunities and resources.
Afterschool STEM Tool Kit is a starting place for networks, intermediaries and afterschool site-based staff to help answer common questions about providing high quality, informal STEM experiences for youth.
Monthly Asset Packages from 2021-2022 include access to various STEM resources, activities, and free trainings.
Million Girls Moonshot STEM Resource Catalog is a non-exhaustive curated collection of STEM and engineering resources.
KYOSA STEM Asset Mapping Tool
The KYOSA Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Asset Mapping data set is a mapping tool with STEM resources as well as assets present across Kentucky. These assets also include those at the local and national levels. The goal of this data set is to aid in identifying gaps in out-of-school service by geographical regions and grade levels.
It is mainly arranged by the Kentucky Local Workforce Development Areas (KY LWDA). There are several data filtering categories: Resource Type (Company, School, Library, Organization), KY LWDA, County, Resource Level (Local/State/National), and the Age Group Served.
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COSI Connects launches audiences of all ages into a universe of science through online videos, activities, plus a free mobile app that enables science exploration even when offline. COSI Connects is helping to bridge the digital divide, promote digital literacy, and address critical science education needs simultaneously.
Girls Who Code is a national non-profit working to close the gender gap in technology. Clubs are free after-school programs for 6th-12th grade girls to use computer science to impact their community and join a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models.
STEM Ready America is a compendium from 40 authors presenting persuasive evidence—as well as real-world examples of effective practices, programs, and partnerships—on how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge and skills are preparing young people for success in school today and the workforce tomorrow.
Click2Science is a resource for out-of-school time professionals. It is designed to help providers build high-quality STEM programs by giving them the skills they need to create positive STEM learning experiences outside the school day.
Common Instrument: A PEAR tool used to assess interest and engagement in science.
Dimensions of Success (DoS) A PEAR observation tool that defines 12 indicators of STEM program quality in OST settings.
MakerMinded is a free program designed to encourage middle and high school students to participate in local STEM activities, particularly related to advanced manufacturing.
InformalScience.org is a collection of project, research, and evaluation resources designed to support informal STEM education in a variety of learning environments.
Pairweb.org provides a searchable database of assessment tools for informal science learning.
PBS LearningMedia is a great destination for educators to access high-quality, trusted digital content that inspires youth and transforms learning.
Afterschool STEM Hub will help providers, parents, and afterschool advocates make the case for expanding and supporting afterschool STEM program
STEM Learning In Kentucky
With demand for well-trained STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workers expected to skyrocket, and women and people of color grossly underrepresented in STEM professions, afterschool programs in Kentucky and across the country can play a critical role in preparing the workforce of the future.
Key takeaways from the recently released STEM Learning in Afterschool on the Rise, But Barriers and Inequities Exist report include:
- Parents strongly support STEM learning in afterschool
- STEM learning opportunities are widely available in afterschool and summer learning programs
- Afterschool programs provide STEM learning opportunities to populations underrepresented in STEM fields
- Opportunities are not the same for all families
- There are gender disparities in the students afterschool and summer learning programs reach with STEM
STEM Learning in Kentucky Report
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