NCSU, CLEMSON, & NC A&T CYFAR SCP 4-H STEM EDUCATION & SCIENCE LITERACY: DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS

Children spend less than a quarter of their waking hours in school. Nonformal experiences such asafterschool programs are critical partners in the effort to increase access to STEM learning opportunitiesin an equitable manner. Research documents that by the time students reach fourth grade, a third of boysand girls lose interest in science. By eighth grade, almost 50 percent lose interest or deem it irrelevant totheir education or future plans. At this point in the K-12 system, the STEM pipeline has narrowed to half.That means millions of students have either tuned out or lack the confidence to believe they can doscience. This project will focus on engaging students in STEM and Science Literacy programs at an earlyage (5-12) in both classrooms and afterschool programs.To support both of CYFAR's strategic objectives through their National Outcome on School Age (K-8), School age youth will demonstrate knowledge, skills attitudes and behavior necessary forfulfilling and contributing lives, this proposal brings together a multidisciplinary team of professionals from three land-grant universities and two Cooperative Extension Systems including: NC State University, Clemson University and NC A&T State University. Specifically, the proposed project leverages resources and personnel at each of these three land-grants to serve school aged youth, their teachers, their nonformal educators, and their families while focusing on the 2016 CYFAR Program Emphasis Area USDA (REE) Goal 6: Education and Science Literacy, to leverage technology and innovation to distribute tools, information, and resources and use nonformal education programs, outreach, 4-H, and other youth development programs to transfer knowledge and technology. The proposed project will 1) Create and implement a formal and nonformal education program to increase student knowledge, skills and attitudes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). STEM education will focus on food, agriculture, natural resources, biological and physical science curricula. Leveraging hands on technology applications at the elementary school level; 2) Strengthen rural elementary teachers knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding science instruction, use of instructional resources, and technology applications that serve vulnerable families and communities; 3) Promote family engagement and learning through nonformal program efforts and community events; and 4) Expand STEM learning systems into new and existing 4-H and FCS community programs. A multi-faceted formative and outcome evaluation will ensure the project meets these objectives.