Core Values and Principles Guiding STEM in Out-of-School

Abstract:

Out-of-school time (OST) programs provide an ideal STEM learning context to provide all learners opportunities to engage in NASA science, particularly learners from underrepresented and underserved groups. PLANETS is a partnership for the development and dissemination of NASA OST curricular and educator resource modules that integrate planetary science and engineering. The program includes educative curriculum guides, including detailed youth activity sequences and a website providing educator resources.

Key to the success of PLANETS are its underlying pedagogical design principles and values, built upon previous work conducted by PLANETS partners, Northern Arizona University, Museum of Science Boston, and USGS Astrogeology. Additionally they draw from evidence-based pedagogical practices found in literature and high quality STEM curriculum and professional learning and development programs (e.g. STEM Habits of Mind, Engineering is Elementary core values and goals, constructivist and cognitive theories on how people learn, and scaffolded learning using learning cycles and engineering design processes).

At the heart of PLANETS program design is easy access to materials specifically designed for OST contexts. The program is “low-tech” in that it is freely available to download and uses readily available materials such as cardboard, printable copies of NASA images, and household items like coffee filters. The learning progression guiding implementation helps youth solve problems and understand planetary science concepts set within NASA mission contexts (e.g. need to filter water for reuse on ISS) and using NASA assets (e.g. CRISM imagery and MOLA data of Jezero crater).

The program has been pilot tested and used in OST settings across the US, many in settings with a high percentage of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged learners. The data from the pilot tests, case study research, and a field study conducted in Fall 2019 show the program has positive effects on both OST educators and youth interest and engagement in STEM. Our experience shows that identifying program core design principles and values are critical to the development and success of implementation of OST STEM materials.