Entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a driver of rural economic growth and community vitality. Nebraska Extension personnel developed a youth entrepreneurship curriculum--EntrepreneurShip Investigation (ESI)--for middle and high school students. This curriculum has been used at 4-H summer camps, for formal classroom and out-of-school…

Teachers who participate in the Teacher Institute on Science and Sustainability (TISS) at the California Academy of Sciences commit to intensive professional development--that is, two two-week summer sessions, four evening workshops, and four Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings throughout each school year--focused on creating more…

It is difficult but important for mathematics teachers to help students see themselves as capable mathematics learners, that is, to help each student develop a positive mathematics identity. A student's mathematics identity is a powerful influence on his or her engagement and participation in mathematics. Students act in ways that are consistent…

Spatial thinking is important for success in engineering. However, little is known about "how" students learn and apply spatial skills, particularly in kindergarten to Grade 12 engineering learning. The present study investigated the role of spatial thinking in engineering learning at a middle school summer camp. Participants were 26…

Baglieri and Shapiro (2012) argue that considering attitudes toward disability is an important step toward building a more inclusive society. This study examines attitudes toward disability of staff members of vocational and independent living skills programs for young adults with disabilities in four Jewish summer camps. McDermott and Varenne's…

This study addressed the question: Is there a relationship between teacher qualifications and school context on reported professional development (PD) outcomes? Data was collected from archived PD for state funded grants awarded in 2006 in the state of Missouri. Seven of the 14 PD programs were selected for this study. A sample of teacher…

Many educators face the challenge of engaging students in science and mathematics, often struggling to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts taught in classrooms and their real-world applications. This disconnect can lead to disinterest and disengagement among students, hindering their learning outcomes. "Cases on Informal Learning for…

Decades of research have focused on the impact of summer learning loss and effective tools in stemming the flow of knowledge lost during summer break. While reading lists have become a standard practice for addressing students' needs to maintain learning levels over the summer months, very little research has been conducted on the book lists…

The organisation of a STEM-wide summer undergraduate research internship scheme to ensure equal opportunities for all students is reported. Student engagement in the internship programme is much greater in the Biological, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences (142 applications in 2016) than in Engineering and Computing (30 applications in 2016). To…

The benefits of mentoring are well documented (Buddeberg-Fischer, 2006; Kasworm, 2010). Every industry has mentors and protégés who seek mentors who achieved their aspirations. But what training do our mentors have in effective mentorship? Recognizing that it is never too early to learn, yet often overlooked, the Weill…

This study examines the perceptions of Korean language teachers on the classroom practice of embedding contemporary Korean pop culture into classrooms for effective world language instruction. While integrating culture in language classrooms has been practiced for decades, Korean teachers in this study expressed a lack of confidence in designing…

Many high school classrooms in the United States have physics teachers who are teaching the subject outside their certified content areas because of a severe shortage of physics teachers. There is a critical need to improve the knowledge base of these out-of-field teachers. This comparative case study examined the instructional practice of…

This study investigated the influence of gender, age, and camp type on outcome achievements for children (aged 6 to 10) at summer camp. The outcome achievements measured were affinity for exploration, affinity for nature, camp connectedness, friendship skills, independence, perceived competence, problem-solving confidence, responsibility, and…

Policymakers and the public are increasingly asking educators to approach instruction from a STEM perspective, integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to prepare students for future careers. At the same time, administrators are directing teachers to make learning more communal and student-driven, emulating the workforce…

Professional learning experiences (PLEs) provide teachers with opportunities to improve their understanding of mathematics content and teaching practices. However, PLEs are often conducted in person and in small groups--hence costly and localized. The purpose of the current study was to explore different ways for teachers to engage in PLEs and how…