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ERIC Number: EJ1407797
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2576-6767
Exploring the Impact of a Spanish Language STEM Outreach Program on Participants, Families, and Mentors
Amy M. Leman; Adrian L. Hernandez; Paola Beltran Gutierrez
Journal of STEM Outreach, v6 n2 2023
"Cena y Ciencias" (Supper and Science), or CyC, is a STEM outreach program for kindergarten through fifth-grade youth and their families. Monthly, university scientists lead interactive experiments with assistance from university student mentors. CyC is conducted entirely in Spanish. While youth complete activities, a separate parent session is held to explain the activities. The overall program goals are to increase interest in STEM careers and encourage Spanish-speaking youth that a scientist can "look like me." We conducted a descriptive, qualitative case study assessing the program's impact on participants, parents, and mentors. Youth participants and parents reported they liked the activities from CyC. Both youth and parents believe anyone can be a scientist. However, few students identified CyC teachers as scientists without further prompting. Neither youth nor parents connected attending CyC with the youth participant's future career. Mentors developed an appreciation of their bilingual skills as a positive identity within their science profession. Mentors expressed new appreciation for science outreach and future intent to do more outreach. All mentors felt CyC was a welcoming environment. Implications for all STEM outreach targeting young audiences include revisiting the connection between fun science activities and careers, confirming participants make the desired connections.
Journal of STEM Outreach. PMB 0367, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN 37203. e-mail: jstemoutreach@vanderbilt.edu; Web site: https://www.jstemoutreach.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A