Making Connections with the STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative #MakerEducation
Great read from the Scientific American Blog about the awesome work being done by The STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative.
One of the first things many STEM programs have to decide is who its audience will be. Maybe they are looking to provide new opportunities to underserved populations in the local community. Maybe they are trying to find environmentally concerned middle schoolers from across the country to shape into a league of citizen scientists. Maybe they are challenging tech-savvy teens worldwide to identify the next great minds in robotics. Programs can foster competitions, collaborations, roles for mentors, or a chance to be mentored. It is a broad landscape of approaches taking every shape, size, and perspective. But in many cases, isolated programs with even the most inspiring potential only last as long as the lone, passionate leader stays at the helm – or until the initial round of funding runs out. The STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative is working to counter that trend by bringing together local, regional, and state STEM Learning Ecosystems from across the country to build a national community of practice.