A NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP-BASED SUMMER LEARNING INITIATIVE TO ENGAGE UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS WITH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS

摘要

In response to the White House Educate to Innovate campaign, NASA developed a new science, technology,engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program for non-traditional audiences that also focused on publicprivatepartnerships and nationwide participation. NASA recognized that summer break is an often overlooked butopportune time to engage youth in STEM experiences, and elevated its ongoing commitment to the cultivation ofdiversity. The Summer of Innovation (SoI) is the resulting initiative that uses NASA's unique missions and resourcesto boost summer learning, particularly for students who are underrepresented, underserved and underperforming inSTEM. The SoI pilot, launched in June 2010, is a multi-faceted effort designed to improve STEM teaching andlearning through partnership, multi-week summer learning programs, special events, a national concluding event, andteacher development. The SoI pilot features strategic infusion of NASA content and educational resource materials,sustainability through STEM Learning Communities, and assessments of effectiveness of SoI interventions withother pilot efforts. This paper examines the inception and development of the Summer of Innovation pilot project,including achievements and effectiveness, as well as lessons learned for future efforts.