JAN MORRISON
(USA)
STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP): A Sustainable Community Education Model
24 September from 4-5 PM – WATCH THE KEYNOTE
A STEM Learning Ecosystem (SLE) is a way to remove barriers to the access of STEM education by designing a sustaining infrastructure. This keynote focuses on the way in which it is possible to bring together an entire community through a comprehensive, integrated initiative that provides the architecture for cross-sector learning by identifying STEM educators in the private and public sectors and link them to in-school and out-of-school initiatives — building STEM-rich learning environments with all partners supporting the effort.
STEM Ecosystems are organized, collaborative networks that include K-12 schools, after-school and summer programs, science centers, museums, colleges and universities, community and youth organizations, and sector partners. Together they work to create accessible and inclusive learning opportunities that help young people become engaged, knowledgeable, and skilled in STEM disciplines as they progress through childhood into adolescence and early adulthood. In this keynote, Jan Morrison, discusses the way in which the STEM Ecoysystem model continuously assess and adapt their program to the specific needs of their communities using, in part, a systems-based measurement tool, Caliper. Through collaborative outreach, the STEM Ecosystem magnifies the collective impact of the stakeholders, who reside both within the formal school system and in the field of extended and informal education.
These designed infrastructures are found throughout 94 municipalities in the USA and in Canada, Mexico, Kenya and now Israel.
