Equity through STEM Learning

I attended a great session last weekend sponsored by ASTC and hosted by the NY Hall of Science and the Educational Equity Center (EEC) at AED. EEC has been developing a new curriculum, Afterschool Math PLUS, with support from the National Science Foundation. The product is outstanding and seems to be showing great results through the pilot phase, which includes sites in NYC, St. Louis, and Louisville. Implementation is being done as a partnership between a science museum and a community-based after-school provider. With private support, EEC is now moving forward to replicate this success. EEC also has exemplary curriculum for science inquiry, reviewed at the Consumers Guide to Afterschool Science Resources and available here.

EEC's efforts are not just about teaching math and science skills. They start with a focus on equity - ending discrimination based on gender, race/ethnicity, disability, and level of family income. The need for changing attitudes about science and math and offering engaging learning opportunities follow from this.