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Learn to make the case for STEM learning with FrameWorks Institute

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Learn to make the case for STEM learning with FrameWorks Institute

By Elizabeth Tish Posted: Oct 31, 2016

Do you think afterschool programs are a great place to engage kids in learning about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)? Do you have trouble sometimes convincing others to share your enthusiasm for teaching kids STEM after school?

If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, the FrameWorks Institute has an online course for you. Making the Case for STEM Learning provides afterschool providers and professionals with the most comprehensive understanding of the Frameworks Institute's communications research on how the American public thinks about STEM education and out-of-school time learning. This research helps afterschool STEM advocates ensure they are using the most effective arguments when seeking to boost funding, support or participation for afterschool STEM programs. 

This course is accessible at no cost through March 2017, so go check it out today!

Looking for additional resources?

Visit the Afterschool STEM Hub to access talking points, PowerPoint slides, infographics, and more to help you tell a compelling story and inspire enthusiasm for STEM in afterschool. You can also view two additional FrameWorks Academy courses to dive deeper into strategies for telling thematic stories, or how to use social math to explain afterschool STEM. 

STEM

July resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Professional Development Opportunities Making Connections to STEM Careers with Click2Science This series of short, online video tutorials help afterschool programs connect their STEM...

STEM

Launch real-world learning in just 4 sessions with Mini Technovation

By Jenna Boles, Content Strategist at Technovation. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This...

STEM

June assets from Million Girls Moonshot

Professional Development Opportunities Free STEM Coaching from ACRES The ACRES project is now offering all STEM coaching materials for FREE—giving leaders like you the tools and resources...

STEM

Budget details confirm scope of cuts to afterschool STEM education

The White House released details of its FY26 budget late on Friday and the cuts to afterschool overall and to STEM education are as bad as we projected earlier this month. They are devastating for...

STEM

Sawhorse Revolution teens design and build community-rooted spaces

By Erin Ingle, Development Director at Sawhorse Revolution. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative....

STEM

New from CYESS: Media is your megaphone — helping young people share their voices

At the Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM and Society (CYESS), we believe young people have powerful stories to tell — stories that deserve to be heard in rooms where decisions are made....

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

Pi Day is March 14! Professional Development Opportunities Free DNA Science Resources The Future is Bright!  From developing cures for cancer to solving the world’s food crisis, genomics is full of meaningful and exciting career opportunities. These roles are critical to...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      02/27/25

Afterschool STEM Hub’s Transition Memo to the Trump Administration

Photo courtesy of Million Girls Moonshot. Happy New Year, everyone! As we move into 2025, we at the Afterschool STEM Hub are gearing up to engage with the new Presidential Administration and the 119th Congress to continue advancing afterschool STEM. Our complex and changing world demands both...

BY: Leslie Brooks      01/30/25

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Empowering future innovators through Invention Education

Photo: Nicolette Buonora and Lauren Strechay with their invention, Battery Swap. By Samantha Rhoads, inHub Marketing Specialist at The Henry Ford. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/13/25

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

As 2024 comes to a close, the Afterschool STEM Hub is reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year ahead. In working toward our vision of a STEM learning ecosystem where high-quality afterschool programs are well-resourced and accessible for all youth, we leveraged collaborative...

BY: Leslie Brooks      12/18/24

Final Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review of 2024 - A focus on youth-led community impact

As 2024 comes to a close, we are delighted to share the winter edition of the Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review (ASQRR) with you! This newsletter aims to provide you with summaries of recent research from the field of afterschool, summer, and out-of-school time science, technology,...

BY: Leslie Brooks      12/16/24

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/02/24

Exploring STEM career pathways in afterschool

Photo courtesy of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance By Hannah Lakin, ACRES coach at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. Without clear pathways into STEM careers, many young people—especially those from underrepresented communities—are missing out on opportunities...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/26/24

Launching EcoGIS: Mapping environmental justice and beyond

By Leah Boveda, Development and Comunications Intern at trubel&co. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/19/24

GenAI in education: Potential and guardrails

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock By An-Me Chung, Director and Strategic Advisor, New America. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a type of AI that can create new content, has sparked both excitement and trepidation in formal and informal education settings. Like many, we at New America...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/18/24

Afterschool STEM Hub’s Transition Memo to the Trump Administration

Photo courtesy of Million Girls Moonshot. Happy New Year, everyone! As we move into 2025, we at the Afterschool STEM Hub are gearing up to engage with the new Presidential Administration and the 119th Congress to continue advancing afterschool STEM. Our complex and changing world demands both...

BY: Leslie Brooks      01/30/25

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

As 2024 comes to a close, the Afterschool STEM Hub is reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year ahead. In working toward our vision of a STEM learning ecosystem where high-quality afterschool programs are well-resourced and accessible for all youth, we leveraged collaborative...

BY: Leslie Brooks      12/18/24

Exploring STEM career pathways in afterschool

Photo courtesy of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance By Hannah Lakin, ACRES coach at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. Without clear pathways into STEM careers, many young people—especially those from underrepresented communities—are missing out on opportunities...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/26/24

GenAI in education: Potential and guardrails

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock By An-Me Chung, Director and Strategic Advisor, New America. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a type of AI that can create new content, has sparked both excitement and trepidation in formal and informal education settings. Like many, we at New America...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/18/24

Inspiring Hispanic students through SHPE’s Virtual STEM Lab

Photo courtesy of Deanna Drako, Manager, Research & Impact, SHPE By Mariana Acuña Delgado, Director, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). Early exposure to STEM degrees and careers is crucial for increasing the likelihood of...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/06/24

Astronauts in afterschool

Photo by History in HD on Unsplash Astronauts have been taking over afterschool lately! NASA and the Department of Education recently announced the renewal of their partnership to bring space education directly into 21st Century Community Learning Centers for the 2024-2025 school year. Selected...

BY: Leslie Brooks      10/15/24

Celebrate Digital Inclusion Week

While you might already be aware of October being the month for celebrating Lights On Afterschool, did you know there is another celebration happening as well? Digital Inclusion Week is October 7 to 11 this year, but it is being honored the entire month of October. Similar to how Lights On...

BY: Leslie Brooks      10/08/24

As Congress returns to Washington, STEM advocates seek adequate funding

As the summer ends, members of Congress, their staff, and advocates for many causes are getting ready for the next steps in the FY 2025 budget and appropriations process. When Congress adjourned for its annual August recess, the House had passed five of the twelve annual spending bills, while the...

BY: Leslie Brooks      09/13/24

Just in time for school: New Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review!

The Afterschool STEM Hub, an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, is happy to share the fall edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review newsletter with the afterschool community! This newsletter aims to provide you with summaries of recent research from the field of afterschool,...

BY: Leslie Brooks      09/09/24

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Empowering future innovators through Invention Education

Photo: Nicolette Buonora and Lauren Strechay with their invention, Battery Swap. By Samantha Rhoads, inHub Marketing Specialist at The Henry Ford. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/13/25

Launching EcoGIS: Mapping environmental justice and beyond

By Leah Boveda, Development and Comunications Intern at trubel&co. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/19/24

Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society: Our Theory of Change

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. We are excited to showcase the systemic change young people can make in their communities when their afterschool programs support them to layer action onto...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      10/01/24

New resource database for programs interested in STEM, civic engagement, and youth empowerment

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic engagement. We are excited to showcase the systemic change...

BY: Leah Silverberg      08/05/24

Youth voice in afterschool STEM: Peeking behind the curtain

STEM learning in afterschool has really taken off over the past decade and there is little doubt of the importance of these spaces for engaging young people with STEM. The most recent America After 3PM study tells us that 73% of afterschool programs offer STEM and that 72% of parents look for these...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      06/27/24

Afterschool programs fill the AI skills gap

By Audra Darbyshire, Creative Manager at Technovation. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/06/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution. By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Youth Action for the Planet

Photo Credit: California Academy of Sciences By Aleks Liou, Program Manager at Youth Action for the Planet. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/30/24

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

Pi Day is March 14! Professional Development Opportunities Free DNA Science Resources The Future is Bright!  From developing cures for cancer to solving the world’s food crisis, genomics is full of meaningful and exciting career opportunities. These roles are critical to...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      02/27/25

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/02/24

October resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for October 2024 Techbridge Girls: Become a Certified Techbridge Girls STEM Curriculum Facilitator October 16: Applications Open October 30: Information Session. REGISTER. Using a blend of theory and application, youth instructors become certified in delivering Techbridge...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      10/07/24

August resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for August 2024 ACRES Coaching: Making Math Engaging Thursdays: 8/22, 9/5, 9/19/2024 1:00 - 3:00 pm EST / 10:00 am- Noon PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      08/06/24

Highlights from the Flight Crew Experience at Girls Build Solutions 2024

After six months of virtual programming as members of the Million Girls Moonshot 2024 Flight Crew, from June 24 to 26, 2024, young STEM advocates met in-person at Girls Build Solutions (GBS) 2024! The Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew, launched by STEM Next Opportunity to engage millions more...

BY: Elizabeth Bannan      07/09/24

July resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for July 2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Mondays: 7/8, 7/22, and 8/5/2024 2:00- 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 am- 1:00 pm PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      07/02/24

June resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for June 2024 ACRES Coaching: Make Math Engaging Mondays: 6/3, 6/17, and 7/1 at 10AM- 12PM EST / 7AM - 9:00AM PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily routines in...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      06/03/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

May resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for May 2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Wednesdays: 5/8, 5/22, 6/5/2024 2:00 - 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 - 1:00 pm PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop their...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      05/13/24

Million Girls Moonshot resources for April

Trainings for April  2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Tuesdays: 4/16, 4/30, and 5/14/2024 11:00 am- 1:00 pm EST / 8:00 - 10:00 am PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      04/04/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Youth Action for the Planet

Photo Credit: California Academy of Sciences By Aleks Liou, Program Manager at Youth Action for the Planet. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/30/24

An afterschool STEM advocacy story

Photo courtesy of California Academy of Sciences By Rachael Van Schoik, Science Action Club Manager, California Academy of Sciences. My advocacy story is Science Action Club’s (SAC) advocacy story. A program within the California Academy of Sciences, a world renowned museum and research...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/15/24

Guest blog: Creating tomorrow’s engineers with Design Squad Latinx

By Nicki Sirianni, Education Outreach and Marketing Manager of GBH Education. Government, industry, research, and education leaders all agree that a strong engineering workforce is an essential part of the future economy in the U.S. and across the globe. Despite the need for more engineers,...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/04/24

Youth at the helm: Exploring sustainability through teen-led initiatives

By Lindsey DeLorey, Public Events and Youth Programs Coordinator at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/23/24

Are you ready for the April 8 total solar eclipse?

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash. By Dennis Schatz, Institute for Learning Innovation and past president of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Do you remember the excitement around the 2017 total solar eclipse? Well, it is going to happen again on Monday, April 8 of this...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/15/24

Power up afterschool learning with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Michael Compton, STEM Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. The acronym STEM refers to the four disciplines of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. STEM is a popular content area to engage young people in exciting, engaging, hands-on learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      09/12/23

Clemson University Science Outreach Center develops graphic novel to inspire youth-led STEM Justice initiatives

By Renée Lyons,  Director of Science Outreach for Clemson University’s College of Science This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/30/23

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/02/24

July resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for July 2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Mondays: 7/8, 7/22, and 8/5/2024 2:00- 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 am- 1:00 pm PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      07/02/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Power up afterschool learning with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Michael Compton, STEM Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. The acronym STEM refers to the four disciplines of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. STEM is a popular content area to engage young people in exciting, engaging, hands-on learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      09/12/23

Building Capacity for Youth Climate Leadership and Action through Youth Climate Summits

Photo courtesy of The Wild Center. By Elodie Linck, The Jeanne Hutchins Youth Climate Coordinator at The Wild Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      07/11/23

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Teen Science Cafés: Teens and STEM experts exploring our world together

Photo courtesy of Louisa Otto, Sanford PROMISE Teen Science Café. By Katey Ahmann, Director of Teen Science Café Network and Kristin Bayans, Manager of Network Engagement at Teen Science Café Network. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/25/24

It’s time for takeoff! Applications for the 2024 Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew open on International Day of the Girl

By Veronica Gonzales, STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Million Girls Moonshot is looking for afterschool STEM champions to join the 2024 Flight Crew! The Moonshot has launched a nation-wide search for the Flight Crew - a group of youth advocates promoting the value of out-of-school STEM learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      10/11/23

Building Capacity for Youth Climate Leadership and Action through Youth Climate Summits

Photo courtesy of The Wild Center. By Elodie Linck, The Jeanne Hutchins Youth Climate Coordinator at The Wild Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      07/11/23