STEMskiller: Skill Set Map for Mentors of Early Career Researchers
ENGAGEMENT, INVOLVEMENT, COLLABORATION, TRANSDISCIPLINARITY, AND INQUISITIVNESS:
Impact and public engagement
Engaging with schools
Definition:
One aspect of “impact” can involve researchers engaging with K-12 schools in order to foster interest in STEM fields and to spur students into considering university programs. Some researchers use K-12 students as participants (“human subjects’) in research projects, and such projects may (depending on institutional policies) require researchers to follow special guidelines and approval of a project by an institutional research board (IRB).[1]
[1] University of Massachusetts at Amherst Research and Engagement: Research Administration & Compliance. (2019). Research in K-12 Settings. https://www.umass.edu/research/guidance/research-k-12-settings
Useful resources on Engaging with schools:
MIT. (2020). MIT Outreach. https://outreach.mit.edu/
Model for institutions wishing to provide a record of outreach activities in all areas. Prompts elementary, middle, and high school students and teachers to “explore”. Students at all levels can: visit campus, learn (on and off campus), and discover research internships and competitions. Educators can: learn how to bring students to campus and discover online teaching materials and professional development resources.
National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement. (2017). Working with Schools. https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/sites/default/files/publication/working_with_schools.pdf
This six-page overview document outlines reasons for becoming involved in schools, planning activities, ways to work with schools, finding schools, tips, and selected additional resources (UK-oriented, but could serve as models for countries without similar resources).
University of California Berkeley. (2020). Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP). https://eaop.berkeley.edu/
Model for institutions wishing to implement long-term partnerships with schools (EAOP has been active for over 30 years). Provides services (advising on university admissions, financial aid, and applications) and academic enrichment programs to prepare students for future academic success. Includes pre-college academy, summer academy, and SAT academy.
Tags: PSR CE; CompTS; CompGS
Peer Review: None
Table of contents:
- 4.2.7. Effective online engagement (including research blogging, social media posting, podcasting, & hosting virtual events)
4.2.8. Evaluating public engagement
Author: Stephanie Krueger
Peer Reviewer(s): None
Last Updated: October 28, 2021