Providing the Spark: Using Informal Education Experiences at the U.S. Space Rocket Center?and Space Camp?to Generate Interest in STEM during Early Childhood

摘要

In response to the growing shortage of the entering workforce in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, the U.S. Department of Education has placed a heavy focus and emphasis on improving the exposure, influence, and implementation of STEM subjects within the public school system. Informal educational experiences, such that museums and science centers offer, can play a vital role in the goal of increasing the number of students proficient in STEM topics and also in influencing students to choose a STEM field career. The engaging educational content and activities at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) and Space Camp, in Huntsville, AL, generate interest in STEM topics among student visitors and campers that produce a measurable impact on later decisions by the students to pursue STEM subjects and career fields. However, with the primary age range targeted for Space Camp being 9 years and older, and with the majority of school field trips to the museum being 4th grade and above, the early childhood range (children 8 years old and younger) is effectively omitted. The museum is developing programming for the early childhood audience in order to fill this gap. This paper will discuss the reasoning and strategy for effectively increasing interest in STEM topics through engaging informal education encounters within this early childhood scope.