STEMex Workshop

Expert Storytelling and Family Stem Meaning Making in a Rural Community

Project Completed! Stayed tuned for more info on our Publications Page

How might experts’ use of storytelling impact rural families’ interactions during Science,Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities? This is a core question that the High Desert Museum and its partners are answering thanks to a substantial STEMex grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). We are examining how the processes of inquiry and problem solving are embedded in STEM-based education for children and families from diverse economic, social and cultural backgrounds, and with different levels of knowledge or understanding about STEM.

The research team, which includes Wildlife Ecology Institute, will work with High Desert Museum curators and biologists, university professors, librarians and other experts (the “ex” part of STEMeX) and families, to discover the most effective aspects of inquiry-based STEM practices. Outcomes from this project will inform museums and libraries about the integral role they play in communities through supporting STEM learning ecosystems, and ultimately establishing connections between school, work place, community and the global economy. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that, during the period from 2008 to 2018, employment in science and engineering occupations will grow by more than double, providing a robust job market for U.S. graduates.

Field topics for the workshop include identifying animal tracks and sign, using camera surveys, constructing hair-snares for collecting genetic information, and use of telemetry in wildlife research.