How ACRES Redefined Out-of-School STEM Education
Posted on
All across the U.S., teaching and learning occurs in many places outside of school, but this fact is often overlooked. Whether it’s through an afterschool program within a school or another venue, like a library or a YMCA, kids gain valuable experiences during “out-of-school time.”
ACRES grew out of this realization: That out-of-school time is a place where coaching could enable educators to bring high-quality STEM learning into out-of-school spaces, elevating the out-of-school experiences of educators and students alike.
What ACRES set out to do was ambitious. The project operated in every state, equipping educators with research-backed coaching skills, largely through interactive online modules. At the same time, participants and staff were enacting a national network of professional learning for out-of-school educators.
While many different regions of the country faced individual challenges, the overarching support of the national learning model that ACRES facilitated allowed for valuable learnings to cross pollinate and ultimately enable coaches to adapt learnings and materials to their local contexts.
By investing in afterschool programs—and acknowledging the opportunities that could exist through such investments—ACRES facilitated groundbreaking research and professional development over the course of nearly 10 years. Out of these efforts came a robust network of afterschool coaches, working collaboratively to elevate STEM education through afterschool programs across the country.
Over the past year, the legacy of ACRES has been explored through a series of blog posts, illustrating both what has been achieved and how these achievements will benefit out-of-school education for years to come. Read about ACRES research impact, the ACRES approach to facilitating coaching, and more in the following posts:
- Leading from Every Angle: Spotlight on Perrin Chick
- Highlights from a Decade of Out-of-School Research
- Purposeful Questions: What They Are and Why They Matter
- Launching Free STEM Afterschool Coaching Materials: An Interview with Becky Tapley
ACRES was developed on the belief that out-of-school educators are uniquely talented in creating learning experiences that engage kids in and excite them about STEM, and that coaching on core facilitation skills can bring that talent to the forefront. In this spirit, ACRES’ developers wanted to make sure that its resources were available to inspire and support all out-of-school educators and coaches. You can explore those resources here(opens in a new tab). Learn more about how MMSA supports out-of-school educators here.