STEM clubs, often located in extracurricular settings, are designed to promote engagement and enjoyment of STEM-related topics and concepts. Given the current policy landscape, a closer examination of STEM clubs is warranted. This paper explores the opportunities and challenges presented by these programs by drawing on interviews with nine STEM…

This paper is concerned with the integration of informal language learning into university language modules in a foreign language environment. It begins by exploring the evolving nature of formal and informal language learning. This is followed by analysis of a pedagogic innovation intended to integrate foreign language activities in an informal…

Teachers in Vietnam need professional learning in order to meet the national requirements of comprehensive educational reform. Teacher professional development encompasses all forms of continuous education for educators. Teacher professional learning is a continual process that begins with schools determining the educational outcomes that are…

This paper reports on the results of a research-practice partnership that included a U.S. university research team and a state-funded grants program that supports informal science education. The goal of the 2-year partnership was to develop an empirically-tested model for collaboration and capacity-building (CCB) in support of collective…

Informal learning supports formal education by facilitating students' learning and helping them to expand their knowledge outside the classroom. This paper explores the impact of informal learning environments on learning outcomes. This study aims to answer the question 'How does the use of informal learning environments within the scope of formal…

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a machine learning (ML) integrated science curriculum implemented within the Science Research Mentorship Program (SRMP) for high school youth at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) over 2 years. The 4-week curriculum focused on ML knowledge gain, skill development, and self-efficacy, particularly…

This study aims to discover the existing experiences that lead to local rural knowledge (LRK) of specific rural Northeast Nebraska communities. This information will assist in understanding the impact that LRK has on young children's science knowledge in rural communities. By engaging in hands-on experiences and interactions, science learning…

Despite the success of informal STEM programs, one ongoing challenge is sustaining learners' interest beyond the programs' initial impact (Morris et al., 2019). Although some longitudinal studies suggest that such programs can have a lasting impact on girls in STEM (e.g., McCreedy & Dierking, 2013), further research is needed to identify the…

This article reports on the findings of a study that explored educators' use of social media in formal and informal science education in Palestine, and their perceptions of the integration of the available tools and resources into their formal teaching and learning. The study used semi-structured interviews with 18 educators at three Palestinian…

It is important that teens are exposed to STEM education both through formal and informal learning opportunities. STEM cafés are an instance of the latter. Within an informal setting, teen science cafés can significantly enhance teens' view of the importance of science in their lives, positively influencing teens' understanding of science in the…

This study examines the management of vocational education at Community Learning Centers (CLCs) in Cambodia during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on policy implementation, operational challenges, and learning outcomes. Using a qualitative research approach, the study conducted in-depth interviews with administrators, trainers, and learners to…