Join EDC at SRCD 2025
On May 1 to 3, EDC researchers and evaluators will present results from their studies on strategies to improve early learning and to support school readiness at the 2025 Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Thursday, May 1 (12:20–1:20 p.m. CT): In the poster session “Podcasts as a Catalyst for Play: Supporting Active Playful Learning for Children from Low-Income Families,” Mingyue Sun will share findings from a paper that she co-authored with Amanda Cardarelli, Megan Silander, Amanda Emsais, Regan Vidiksis, Marcia Bueno, and Naomi Hupert. Their study found that podcasts hold potential to spark a variety of beneficial learning experiences.
Friday, May 2 (12:50–1:50 p.m. CT): Janna Kook will present the poster session “The Role of Libraries in Making Computational Thinking Accessible to Young Families through Digital Media.” The session will spotlight a study that Janna, Lucy Nelson, and a GBH team led by Marisa Wolsky are conducting to examine the impact of a program to support rural families in promoting children’s early learning.
Friday, May 2 (8:30–10 a.m. CT): Naomi Hupert will share insights from EDC’s 19 years of leading studies on the Ready to Learn initiative during the roundtable discussion “Designing and Researching Educational Multimedia Programs for Family Co-engagement.” Chaired by Jennifer Borland, the roundtable will also include Momo Hayakawa, Camelia Sanford-Dolly, and Susana Beltran-Grimm. Together, Naomi and colleagues will share lessons learned, challenges, and recommended solutions when designing and implementing children’s media activities intended for family engagement.
Friday, May 2 (4:40–6:10 p.m. CT): Naomi Hupert will chair the multi-paper symposium “Children’s Podcasts as Pathways for Learning & Family Engagement.” The symposium will examine the value of families listening to podcasts together, opportunities for learning, and the role of public media in reaching families and communities. During the symposium, Amanda Cardarelli will present the paper Intergenerational Podcast Listening & Opportunities for Informal Learning, co-authored with Elizabeth Hunt and Megan Silander.
Saturday, May 3 (2– 3:30 p.m. CT): Jessica Young and Susana Beltran-Grimm will co-chair the multi-paper symposium “Broadening Access to Science through Public Facing Media and Partnership Programs.” During the symposium:
- Joy Kennedy, Jessica Young, and Brandt Richardson will share findings from their La Fuerza-STEM project in the paper #HacemosCiencias! Promoting Informal STEM Learning among Spanish-speaking Families with Young Children.
- Clare Christensen will present the paper Step it out, Wombats! PBS KIDS resources support sequencing skills, co-authored with Emily Relkin, Elica Sharifnia, Megan Silander, Sarah Gerard, Janna Kook, Shari Gardner, Regan Vidiksis, Erika Gaylor, Lucy Nelson, Elizabeth Hunt, Naomi Hupert, and Shelley Pasnik.
- Jessica Young and Megan Ramer will share findings from their Supporting Science Inquiry, Interest, and STEM Thinking project in the paper Science, Play, and Community Partnerships at a Science Center.
- Astrid Viveros and Irisaida Mendez will present the paper Impact Evaluation of the Technolochicas Program.
Learn more about EDC’s Research & Evaluation services and work to support Early Childhood Development & Learning.
