Promising Practices for Engaging Families in STEM Learning

The technology revolution has made it critical for all children to understand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) or risk being left behind. Promising Practices for Engaging Families in STEM Learning explores how families, schools, and communities can join together to promote student success in STEM by building organized and equitable pathways for family engagement across all of the settings in which students learn - including, schools, early childhood programs, homes, libraries and museums -from the earliest years through adolescence.

This thought-provoking monograph includes three main sections with chapters from leading thinkers in the field:

- The first section provides the theoretical and research base for the importance of family engagement in STEM and draws out the challenges and opportunities that exist- from the transmission of adults' anxiety and lack of confidence in their own STEM skills, to inequalities in out-of-school learning opportunities, to biases and misconceptions about the kinds of STEM supports offered by families from low-income and immigrant homes.

- The second section builds on this research by presenting success stories, best practices, and approaches to engaging families in STEM.

- The final section focuses on how policies at the local, state, and federal level can support the promotion of family engagement in STEM.



Taken together, the monograph shows that STEM is a powerful mechanism to connect, engage, and empower families.

- STEM provides opportunities for parents and children to spend time together asking fun and meaningful questions that link in-and out-of-school learning.

- STEM creates new experiences for families to co-construct and support learning with their children from the earliest years throughout formal schooling and onto college and career pathways.

- STEM also presents possibilities for families to build confidence and agency in supporting children's interests; especially those families who might be marginalized because of their economic or language status, race, or culture.

Revolutia tehnologica a facut critic pentru toti copiii sa inteleaga stiinta, tehnologia, ingineria si matematica (STEM) sau sa riste sa ramana in urma. Practici promitatoare pentru implicarea familiilor in invatarea STEM exploreaza modul in care familiile, scolile si comunitatile se pot uni pentru a promova succesul elevilor in STEM prin construirea unor cai organizate si echitabile pentru implicarea familiei in toate setarile in care elevii invata - inclusiv, scoli, copilaria timpurie programe, case, biblioteci si muzee - incepand cu primii ani pana in adolescenta. Aceasta monografie stimulativa include trei sectiuni principale cu capitole de la cei mai importanti ganditori din domeniu: - Prima sectiune ofera baza teoretica si de cercetare pentru importanta implicarii familiei in STEM si atrage provocarile si oportunitatile care exista - de la transmiterea anxietatii adultilor si a lipsei de incredere in propriile abilitati STEM, la inegalitati in oportunitatile de invatare in afara scolii, la partiniri si conceptii gresite cu privire la tipurile de sprijin STEM oferite de catre familiile din locuinte cu venituri mici si imigranti. - A doua sectiune se bazeaza pe aceasta cercetare de catre presedinte prezentand povesti de succes, cele mai bune practici si abordari pentru implicarea familiilor in STEM. - Sectiunea finala se concentreaza pe modul in care politicile de la nivel local, de stat si federal pot sprijini promovarea angajamentului familiei in STEM. Luata impreuna, monografia arata ca STEM este un mecanism puternic de conectare, implicare si imputernicire a familiilor. - STEM ofera oportunitati parintilor si copiilor de a petrece timp impreuna punand intrebari distractive si semnificative care leaga invatarea in scoala si in afara scolii. - STEM creeaza noi experiente pentru familii co-construiti si sprijiniti invatarea cu copiii lor inca din primii ani de-a lungul scolii formale si pe parcursul colegiului si al carierei. - STEM ofera, de asemenea, posibilitatile familiilor de a-si dezvolta increderea si agentia in sustinerea intereselor copiilor; in special acele familii care ar putea fi marginalizate din cauza statutului lor economic sau lingvistic, de rasa sau cultura.