STEM 360: Multi-Setting, Multi-Platform STEM Education Engagement Program and Research Study

STEM 360 is a Commonwealth of Virginia-funded project and a partnership between the Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC) and area schools that is helping to change who has access to learning over their lifetime by developing, testing, and refining an innovative model for sustainable, scalable capacity-building in urban communities, cultivating STEM interests and capabilities of urban youth through informal/formal STEM learning experiences. After four iterations of this project with successful outcomes for 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders, this project will be entering its fifth phase.

The first three phases focused on 4^th and 5^th grade students. In the first two iterations, differing levels of program enrichment were evaluated with the most enriching level resulting in the most positive outcomes. In Phase 3, we built on these findings and in response to changes in schooling due to COVID, focused on making comparisons between the hands-on version of the STEM 360 program, a virtual version of the program, and a hybrid version. Whereas one might assume that an all-in-person delivery of STEM 360 would be the most effective, results suggest that there may be advantages to implementing components of the program virtually. In Phase 4, we shifted our focus to 5^th and 6^th grade and explored ways to support teachers in their involvement in this program.

The program continued to have a positive impact on students at this older grade level. Most notable was the greater impact on students’ STEM career awareness and development than in previous phases and multiple positive outcomes for teachers including increased teacher self-efficacy in STEM teaching and supporting student STEM career awareness.

Now moving onto Phase 5, the program will build on STEM 360’s ongoing success and priority in increasing student STEM career awareness by offering elementary and middle school students (4th-8th grade) a variety of opportunities for STEM career exploration and providing ongoing teacher professional development to best achieve positive student outcomes.

Video: Virginia Air & Space Center – STEM 360 Documentary

View our Phase 4 Final Report here:STEM 360 Phase 4 Final Report 080724

Project Team: Debbie Siegel Ph.D., John H. Falk Ph.D.,