STEM教育纳入美国“放学后计划”:动因、路径与成效

STEM Education into the U.S.After-school Program:Motivation,Pathways and Outcomes

随着“放学后计划”在全美的推广,课后教育成为了一种重要的教育补充形式。为了维持自身全球竞争力、为少数族裔家庭儿童提供教育补偿、突破传统课堂STEM学习的时空限制以及为个人提供更多更优质的工作机会,课后STEM教育被列为美国“放学后计划”的主要内容。在推进课后STEM教育实施的过程中,联邦政府设立专项资金予以财政支持,各州因地制宜开发个性化的项目活动,放学后联盟组织定期对其展开质量评估。在各方力量的联合下,课后STEM教育在提高K-12阶段STEM教育的普及率、丰富STEM教育内容和场景、帮助学生及早发展STEM学习兴趣、满足家长教育期望上发挥了重要作用。但当前,美国课后STEM教育仍然存在优质师资短缺、各州实施质量良莠不齐、受惠学生范围不广泛的问题。

As the After-school Program gains widespread acceptance in the United States,after-school education has emerged as a crucial complement to traditional education.Its aims include maintaining global competitiveness,providing equitable access to high-quality education for ethnic minority children,breaking free from the time and space constraints of conventional STEM classroom learning,and addressing the evolving demands of the 2lst-century job market.In the United States,after-school STEM education is prominently featured within the after-school service domain.The federal government has established dedicated funding to bolster after-school STEM education initiatives,while individual states have devised tailored programs with assistance from external resources.The After-school Alliance also conducts regular assessments to ensure program quality.These collective efforts have yielded positive outcomes,such as an increased prevalence of STEM education in K-12 curricula,diverse STEM programs,and enriched learning environments.Moreover,they enable students to explore their interests in STEM subjects from an early age,thereby aligning with parental educational expectations.However,ongoing challenges persist,including a shortage of high-caliber teachers,disparities in educational resources across states,and unequal access to STEM education for low-income families.