Click2SciencePD Framework
The foundation upon which Click2Science was built, Click2Science skill are the abilities frontline staff need to effectively facilitate high-quality STEM learning experiences with youth. The skills are designed to help staff achieve overarching strategies that lead to higher-quality education during out-of-school time. The skills and strategies were identified through extensive research and testing, and supported by previous studies.
Strategy
Preparing for Success in STEM
Staff will select, plan, and prepare to deliver a STEM learning experience to youth. Well-prepared STEM learning experiences are relevant, engaging, and appropriate for youth. By effectively preparing to deliver STEM learning to youth, frontline staff will provide STEM learning experiences that maximize youth engagement, and support inclusiveness and safety.
Skill
Preparing STEM Learning Opportunities
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will prepare high-quality STEM activities for youth.
Skill
Creating STEM Learning Environments
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will arrange their environment to maximize youth engagement and support physical and emotional safety during STEM activities.
Strategy
Supporting Youth Development Through STEM
Staff will use positive youth development practices to engage youth in meaningful STEM learning experiences. Positive youth development is essential to developing well-rounded youth who are engaged with their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families. Out-of-school time STEM education is well-positioned to equip youth with the opportunities, relationships, and the foundation they need to build and grow their leadership skills.
Skill
Managing Groups During STEM
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will manage behavior of youth during STEM activities.
Skill
Encouraging Collaborative STEM Work
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will be able to effectively facilitate collaborative STEM learning experiences.
Skill
Facilitating Inclusive Learning Experiences
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will design and continually attend to the social and emotional safety of youth and respond to the inequities when they occur.
Skill
Developing a STEM Identity
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will be support youth in viewing themselves as someone who learns about, uses, and sometimes contributes to science – someone who has a personal identity as a science learner.
Skill
Making Connections to STEM Careers
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will be able to connect their program to the work of STEM professionals.
Skill
Connecting to Prior Knowledge & Experiences
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will be able to effectively connect STEM activities to the knowledge and experiences (culture, gender, socioeconomic status, language, daily experiences, etc.) of the youth in their program.
Skill
Giving Youth Control
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will provide opportunities for youth to direct and manage their own learning.
Strategy
Developing STEM Practices & Mindset
Staff will model and facilitate opportunities for youth to use the science and engineering practices to develop a STEM mindset through answering questions and solving problems during learning experiences.
Skill
Enabling Active STEM Learning
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will be able to facilitate active STEM learning experiences.
Skill
Modeling Science Practices
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will facilitate opportunities for youth to apply science practices including investigating questions, using data, and developing explanations.
Skill
Modeling Engineering Practices
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will facilitate STEM learning experiences for youth to engage in engineering practices, including defining the problem, designing a solution, testing, responding to failure, and optimization.
Skill
Supporting Documentation of STEM Learning
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will be able to support youth to use a variety of documentation strategies during STEM.
Skill
Asking Purposeful Questions
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will utilize purposeful questioning and feedback to increase youth learning in STEM.
Skill
Reflecting & Processing Experiences
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteers will deepen understanding and personal meaning-making for youth by facilitating opportunities for reflecting on STEM learning experiences.
Skill
Making Authentic Assessments
Purpose: Frontline staff and volunteer will be able to evaluate what is learned by youth before, during, and after STEM activities.