La Fuerza-STEM

Challenge

Across the United States, families are unsure of how to support their children’s STEM learning at home. Although many families lack confidence and feel like only teachers can promote early STEM learning, they do have a vital role as their children’s first educators. With support, they can boost children’s early STEM learning at home and every day—setting the stage for school success.

To respond to this challenge, EDC is designing and testing multiple approaches to supporting families in enhancing children’s early STEM learning. In the La Fuerza-STEM project, EDC and Literacy Partners developed and studied a science-infused Spanish language telenovela and related workshops for Spanish-speaking families with children ages 3–8 years.

Key Activities

The project carried out the following activities:

• Co-produced a STEM-infused telenovela that spotlights science careers, and developed and delivered related family science workshops
• Convened a Scientific Advisory Board and a Parent Advisory Board to shape the development of the telenovela and workshops
• Conducted a rigorous randomized controlled trial with 200 caregivers to evaluate the effectiveness of viewing the telenovela in improving caregivers’ attitudes and beliefs about science
• Trained and supported 10–15 community partners in the delivery of the workshops
• Conducted a second rigorous randomized controlled trial with 300 caregivers to evaluate the effectiveness of the workshops in improving caregivers’ attitudes and beliefs about science

Our Impact

The project team completed the following work:

• Developed and broadcast a telenovela series, La Fuerza de Creer, that had a reach of over 7 million viewers and received multiple awards, including a Children’s and Family Emmy Award in the Public Service Initiative category, a Silver Anthem Award, a Silver Telly Award, and a Communicator Award
• Published an article about family science on Univision’s website
• Rolled out informal science workshops with 10–15 partner organizations across the United States
• Provided free training and access to a community of practice for facilitators working with Spanish-speaking communities

The study of the project was designed to:

• Deepen understanding of an innovative strategy to build families’ confidence in supporting early STEM learning
• Advance knowledge of the impact of media on the informal science attitudes and practices of Spanish-speaking families
• Improve understanding of how to amplify Spanish-speaking caregivers’ self-efficacy in informal science
• Provide insight into the successes and challenges of providing informal science workshops