#DIYandSTEM Twitter Chat Archive

Thank you to the makers, DIY and robotics enhusiasts in the science after school community who joined us today on our terrific #DIYandSTEM chat!  Folks provided so many great ideas, resources and comments so we archived it here for easy reference.

If you missed today's chat, don't worry!  The community is still using #DIYandSTEM on Twitter to share ideas, inspiration and resources.  Go ahead and post your own answers to our chat questions:

• Q1 Why is hands-on learning important for youth?
• Q2 What is special about afterschool and summer DIY learning opportunities?
• Q3 How do DIY activities support STEM education?
• Q4 What strategies can we use to engage both girls and boys in DIY and robotics activities?
• Q5 What DIY, Maker and robotics resources or examples can we look at for inspiration?
• Q6 How do we help youth build mastery and gain confidence with hands-on projects?
• Q7 What makes for a high-quality hands-on STEM activity?

Not on Twitter? Post your #DIYandSTEM thoughts on our Facebook page.

We're always looking for new ways to connect with our community.  Have a great idea for the next Twitter chat?  A photo of your favorite DIY in STEM moment?  Or maybe you'd like to contribute to this blog as a guest blogger?  Let us know!

Thanks again for a great conversation today!

Twitter Chat about STEM in Summer Learning

Are you ready for STEM this summer?

The Coalition for Science After School will host a Twitter chat Thursday May 17, 4 PM to 5 PM EDT about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in summer learning.  During this conversation, you will have the opportunity to share your experiences, learn why summer is the perfect time to explore STEM subjects, and hear from experts about resources and best practices.

The chat will feature representatives from NASA's Summer of Innovation (@NASAExplorerSch), The After School Corporation (@expand_school), the National Summer Learning Association (@summerlearning), Coalition Director Carol Tang (@caroltang1) and other special guests from community organizations who are bringing STEM into summer learning experiences, including the Collaborative for Building After-School Systems (@CBASS_National). 

To join the chat and see what others are saying:

1. Go to tweetchat.com and search for the hashtag #SummerSTEM.
2. You do not need a Twitter account to follow the chat, but you do need one to comment or ask questions. If you need to set up a twitter account, you can sign up at http://www.twitter.com. It’s free to join and only takes a minute.
3. To join the discussion, sign into TweetChat using your Twitter account and enter your tweets in the box at the top of the page. TweetChat automatically includes the hashtag for you.
4. Each tweet is limited to 140 characters (including the hashtag #SummerSTEM) but feel free to multiple tweets to pose a question or respond to a comment.

The Coalition's Twitter handle is @sciafterschool.  Feel free to submit questions in advance, either by sending us a message on Twitter or emailing them to sarah.elovich@berkeley.edu.  

Looking forward to seeing you on the chat!

Twitter Chat about Digital Learning

The Collaborative for Building After-School Systems (CBASS) will host a Twitter chat tomorrow, Wednesday February 29, 2 PM to 3 PM EST to explore how schools and community organizations can help kids learn anytime, anywhere using digital media, mobile devices and online games. During this conversation, you will have the opportunity to share your experiences, learn best practices, and discuss how you can overcome challenges in using technology effectively in out-of-school time.

The chat will feature representatives from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS, Coalition Director Carol Tang (@SciAfterSchool), the Afterschool Alliance (@afterschool4all), and other special guests from community organizations and schools who are actively using technology to expand learning for kids.

To join the chat and see what others are saying:

1. Go to tweetchat.com and search on the hashtag #techafter3.
2. You do not need a Twitter account to follow the chat, but you do need one to comment or ask questions. If you need to set up a twitter account, you can sign up at http://www.twitter.com. It’s free to join and only takes a minute.
3. To join the discussion, sign into TweetChat using your Twitter account and enter your tweets in the box at the top of the page. TweetChat automatically includes the hashtag for you.
4. Each tweet is limited to 140 characters (including the hashtag #techafter3) but feel free to multiple tweets to pose a question or respond to a comment.

CBASS’s Twitter handle is @CBASS_National. Feel free to submit questions in advance, either by sending CBASS a message on Twitter or emailing them to emorgan@tascorp.org.