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Informal and powerful ... Everyone knows that learning happens all the time, not just in school. Even researchers agree -- especially when it comes to STEM.
Informal science education (ISE) is learning that happens outside a formal classroom--in after school programs, nature centers, museums, summer camps, youth clubs and other community organizations. Our region offers informal science in an array of locations, on all kinds of topics, in formats for every style and taste.
Through informal science anyone, anytime, anywhere, can enjoy STEM. This issue of the Petri Dish is dedicated to highlighting and promoting the work of these great organizations in our region. |
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Verizon, Marconi Center partner for STEM
Chatham Marconi Maritime Center to use $75K Verizon Foundation grant to expand STEM outreach
 | | Stephanie Lee (far left) from the Verizon Foundation presents a check to Chatham Marconi Maritime Center's steering committee, including (L to R) Charles Bartlett, CMMC president, Caroline Cragin, Superintendent of Schools, Harwich, and Superintendent of the new Monomy Regional School District, and Eric Bender, Cape Cod MIT Club president. |
Informal education often involves partnerships and collaborations. The just-announced $75,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center (CMMC) provides a perfect example.
CMMC preserves and operates the former Marconi/RCA wireless receiving station in Chatham, Massachusetts. During its heyday, the station was the busiest marine radio station on the east coast. In addition to sharing technology history, today's CMMC also delivers STEM programming to help students thrive in the 21st century
With the grant, CMMC, the MIT Club of Cape Cod and the Chatham Public Schools will partner to develop curriculum and teacher training materials in the STEM fields, with a specific focus on wireles communications, engineering and design. |
Informal Science Education
Opportunities, partnerships for STEM goals
Here's a bit of good STEM news. Americans, it seems, really do like science, at least in its informal versions.
Everyday Science
 A Pew Research Center project found that 76% of Americans enjoy keeping up with science news. Two-thirds (67%) said they regularly watch television programs about science, including shows like NOVA and channels like the Discovery Channel. These people are participating in a type of informal science education that the Center for the Advancement of Information Science Education calls "Everyday Science."
STEM2Stern
 Last June, the US Navy also looked to informal channels as part of its $100M+ investment in STEM education and its STEM2Stern initiative. Concerned about the decline in STEM students, STEM2Stern's mission features the words "engage" and "inspire" prominently. One of the strategies for engaging and inspiring? Informal science education created by expanding hands-on and experiential programs that leverage the expertise of the Navy's scientists and engineers.
NSF funds ISE
 The National Science Foundation's Informal Science Education program targets concerns about STEM study by supporting innovation in "anywhere, anytime, lifelong learning, outside formal school settings." The next grant round closes in January 2012 and looks to support the informal side of the equation to the tune of 60 awards worth $28M.
More, more, more
 To see the diversity, scope, and sheer volume of informal science and the ways it reaches students and extends and enhances classroom efforts:CAISE's recent policy research paper even suggests paths for formalizing this informal branch of STEM and addressing it within a formal policy setting! |
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State's @Scale projects bring partnership potential to schools across the state
Sometimes it just takes a little nudge at the right time. That's the idea behind the state's designated @Scale projects - six efforts that target middle and high school students who are "near interested" or "near prepared" for pursuing a STEM career.
If you want to bring any of them to your school, do two simple things. First, contact that program's manager and tell them you're interested. Then, drop us an email at southeaststemnetwork@connectsemass.org or call us at 508.531.1437 to let us know, too.
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MA Math and Science Initiative |
The @Scale programs:
* Project Lead the Way. Three sets of curricular units for middle and high school challenge and engage the natural curiosity of students on topics from green energy to biomedical science. http://www.pltw.org
* Mass Math + Science Initiative (MMSI). The state's largest high school math and science program aimed at preparing underserved students for college and career success in STEM. http://www.massinsight.org/mmsi
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Make Digits Your Business |
* Digits. Classroom visits by STEM ambassadors open the minds of sixth graders to the exciting and limitless opportunities that studying math and science provide. http://digits.us.com/
* BioTeach. Signature program of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation introducing biotechnology to the high school science curricula to prepare students for careers in life science. http://www.massbioed.org/educators/bioteach_grants.php
* Advanced Robotics Intensive. Quinsigamind Community College's model provides 100+ contact hours of STEM activities per semester, around a hands-on robotics theme. http://www.qcc.edu/pages/Home.html
* Science Transfer Initiative. Massasoit Community College's program to increase post-secondary enrollment, retention, diversity, and access in the sciences by preparing community college students to successfully transfer to four-year schools.www.massasoit.mass.edu
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STEM Stirrings: Events & Resources
 Got game?
If you've got game design designs, the 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge might be your winning ticket. The Challenge, a partnership between the new federal education initiative Digital Promise, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, and E-Line Media, sets game development challenges in four age categories. Everyone from middle and high school students to college students and teachers can enter. The goal is STEM-teaching games and yes, there are prizes for the winners!
· What? STEM game design competition
· When? Now through March 15
· Cost? Free
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SciTech GirlExpo advance registration opens
 Jr. Tech and Massachusetts Maritime Academy want to inspire high school girls to pursue a STEM career and are again partnering to make that possible. The upcoming second annual SciTech GirlExpo features keynote speaker Faith Ball, Engineering Sr. Manager at Lockheed Martin Marion, and a host of hands-on breakout sessions, all designed to give girls in grades 9-12 a step up on their engineering, marine, science, and health services careers.
· What? Advance registration for GirlExpo
· Where? Mass Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay
· When? Saturday April 7 full day event; register now at 774-994-2097 or email phyllis@juniortech.org
· Cost? $50/student; group discounts available
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 NEED environmental education? The US Park Service program at the National Seashore provides a unique immersive environmental education program. The park's year-round NEED program incorporates itineraries, lesson plans and other curricular materials, along with accommodations in a former US Coast Guard station at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham just 100 feet inland from the famous Outer Beach.
· What? US Park Service immersive environmental program
· Where? National Seashore, Eastham.
· When? Rolling admissions; advance applications required http://www.nps.gov/caco/forteachers/need-program.htm
· Cost? $100-275/night/group
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 Sugar season Check out the sugaring season at Massachusetts' oldest Audubon center, Moose Hill in Sharon. Starting in February, programs for students in Pre-K to 8 provide a hands on look (& taste) at sugar maples and how they function throughout the seasons. Programming is aligned to MA frameworks, as well. Early reservations recommended. · What? The science of the sugar maple · Where? Moose Hill Audubon, Sharon · When? February, but make reservations now at 781-784-5691 or kandberg@massaudubon.org · Cost? $7.50/student; group discounts available |
Share your news!
We want to include all the cool stuff happening around our region. Did your robotics team win a tournament? Are you launching a new initiative, or did you receive a big grant? Do you have classes, lectures, or programs coming up? Let us know, and we'll share your good news with the region! Email your news, events, and other interesting tidbits to southeaststemnetwork@connectsemass.org.
Plus, don't forget to register your organization in the SE MA STEM directory so that people seeking your STEM services can find you:
And be sure to check out the network website at :
Our mission is to connect southeastern Massachusetts students, educators, employers, and STEM advocates to resources and to each other. |
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