How do we insure that students are learning to be creative thinkers in a world of global change and what does that mean for the future of education in the digital age? This session includes a discussion of two digital STEM programs for elementary, middle, and high school students - Plum Landing and Land Science. Developed by WGBH Boston with NSF funding, Plum Landing is designed to support parents, children (ages 6-9 years), and educators in educational settings as well as in out-of-school settings such as afterschool programs, independent camps, and museums. Plum Landing offers a digital curriculum, including animated webisodes, online games, free apps, hands-on science activities, and live-action videos. Developed by the University of Wisconsin’s Epistemic Games Group, in partnership with Mass Audubon, Land Science is a NSF funded project that utilizes virtual Urban Planning internships for middle and high school students in formal and informal settings. Virtual internships are designed to foster creativity and introduce youth to real-world applications for STEM practices and content.
Learn about the successes and challenges of implementing these projects as well as the results of data collected that demonstrate that these types of programs have a significant impact on participants’ environmental science-related habits of mind, understanding of socio-ecological systems, interest in STEM careers, and environmental science content knowledge.
