Education Commons^™

How Informal Stem Learning Opportunities Benefit Diverse Communities, Bridget Musker

Whittier Scholars Program

In today's world, equitable access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education is imperative. However, minority and underrepresented communities often face barriers to participation in formal educational settings. Informal learning, occurring outside of the classroom, presents an opportunity for these communities to engage with STEM subjects in accessible and inclusive environments. Out of School Time (OST) programs and informal learning play a significant role in providing high quality, hands-on, experiential STEM education focused on skill building, and college and career readiness. Despite the importance of STEM learning, persistent disparities exist, particularly among culturally diverse communities, due to systemic discrimination …