All Together Now: The Role of Mentorship in Persistence in Informal STEM Programs
The All Together Now project investigates how informal programs can broaden participation by building social capital in STEM for youth from underrepresented groups. The project integrates social network analysis with research on informal learning, and draws on the connected learning framework for how to connect learning across settings. It builds on evidence that sponsorship of youth interest, affinity-based mentorship, and brokering connections to other settings and opportunities can build social capital and support interest and persistence in STEM.
This project is funded by the National Science Foundation Advancing Informal Science Learning Program, Award Number 1810923.
Publications
Bridging Theory to Practice: Conducting Culturally Responsive Interviews With Historically Marginalized Youth in STEM
Moving beyond theoretical research to offer concrete examples for designing culturally responsive instruments in STEM.
Building a “Home-Place” in STEM: Leveraging Race, Resistance, and Cultural Wealth to Foster STEM Counterspaces for Youth of Color
The power and potentiality of STEM homeplaces as places of refuge, healing, radical possibility for Students of Color
Social, Emotional, and Cultural Supports for STEM Equity: Lessons from Informal STEM Learning Programs
Uses the connected learning framework to analyze equity-enhancing features of informal STEM learning programs.
Connected Learning Spaces Supporting Engineering Interest Development: A Case Study of Ego-Centric Network Analysis of Relationships
Explores the use of ego-centric network analysis to investigate how out-of-school programs can build social capital for youth from underrepresented groups.
Blog Posts
The Good Things You Didn’t Hear About: MESA Students, Teachers, and Researchers Reflect on Their Positive Connected Experiences During the Pandemic
Key Lessons from Informal STEM Learning Programs: Social, Emotional, and Cultural Support Matters! - Connected Learning Alliance
Building Race-Conscious and Justice-Oriented STEM Spaces: Learning from Women of Color Educators - Connected Learning Alliance
Team
Vera Michalchik
Stanford University
Maïko Le Lay
Duke University
R. Mishael Sedas
UC Irvine
Oshin Khachikian
UC Irvine
Partners
