Developing and Researching Making Activities for STEM Innovation with Youth in Care Facilities

Challenge

In the United States, approximately 1.5 million youth ages 10 to 17 have health care needs that require them to spend substantial amounts of time in care facilities, such as hospitals. These facilities can offer real-world opportunities for youth to learn and apply STEM concepts and skills. Yet little is known about how these settings might maximize youths’ out-of-school time STEM learning and help promote their readiness for STEM careers.

To address this gap, EDC is partnering with The Franklin Institute, Bank Street College of Education Child Life Specialist program, and youth ages 12 to 18 who have spent time in care settings to co-develop maker activities for teens residing in care facilities. Together, the team is designing and researching educational materials—including maker activities, companion videos, and an implementation guide—to foster the STEM learning and career interest of youth in care settings.

Key Activities

The project is carrying out the following activities:

• Conducting research to identify which maker activity formats and topics are most feasible for child life specialists to use with youth in care facilities
• Working with previously hospitalized youth and child life specialists to develop, test, and refine STEM-based maker activities that can be used in care settings nationwide
• Developing an activity guide and training child life specialist faculty on how to use the guide to implement the STEM activities in their settings
• Disseminating materials nationally to care providers, informal STEM educators, and others to cultivate STEM skills and career interest across a broad range of settings

Impact

The project’s materials and findings will help propel the nation’s goals to prepare STEM-proficient young people who are ready to contribute to our country’s innovation workforce.