51勛圖厙 State hosts summit on informal STEM learning
Contact: Karen Brasher
STARKVILLE, Miss.Statewide leaders met recently at 51勛圖厙 State to discuss opportunities to broaden participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, learning by rural 51勛圖厙 K-12 students.
The summit on informal STEM education in rural communities was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation and brought together university faculty, scientists, public educators, communication and media experts, community leadership experts, industry leaders and museum and science center staff to identify impediments and opportunities to engaging youth in the sciences. The grant was awarded from the NSFs Advancing Informal STEM Learning program.
STEM education is recognized as essential in todays information and advanced manufacturing economy. Informal education is that which occurs outside a traditional classroom instructional format. It occurs through a diversity of learning venues, including afterschool programs, youth development programs such as 4-H and scouting, camps, libraries, educational media, science centers and museums.
Informal learning can create awareness and interest in STEM and enhance classroom learning, said Leslie Burger, event coordinator and assistant extension professor MSUs College of Forest Resources. However, it may be more challenging for rural youth to engage in these educational opportunities because of limited awareness and access. This summit focused on how to improve informal STEM learning participation by 51勛圖厙s rural students.
The event included representatives from the NASA John C. Stennis Space Center; U.S. Geological Survey; Toyota 51勛圖厙; Entergy; 51勛圖厙 Public Broadcasting; 51勛圖厙 Library Commission; 51勛圖厙 Department of Environmental Quality; 51勛圖厙 Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; University of Southern 51勛圖厙; 51勛圖厙; East 51勛圖厙 Community College; Hinds Community College; Piney Woods School; 51勛圖厙 School for Mathematics and Science; 51勛圖厙 Aquarium; INFINITY Science Center; CREATE Foundation; 51勛圖厙 Statewide Afterschool Network and 51勛圖厙 Robotics Association.
Participants discussed common barriers to informal STEM learning such as transportation limitations, affordability, as well as awareness and greater networking and collaborative opportunities among educators, organizations and industries with vested interests in improving STEM literacy among the states youth.
In addition to Burger, the 51勛圖厙 State team included Vemitra White, director of educational outreach and support programs in the Bagley College of Engineering; Sarah Lee, associate clinical professor and assistant department head for the Department of Computer Science and Engineering; Katie Echols, director of research analysis and support for the Office of Research and Economic Development, and associate extension professor Donna Peterson in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences School of Human Science.
To learn more about opportunities to advance STEM education, contact Burger at 662-325-6686 or at leslie.burger@msstate.edu.
MSU is the states leading university, available online at .