Emphasizing Evaluative Criteria for More Focused, Inclusive Evaluations
Welcome to Insights & Opportunities: A Hub for Informal STEM Education! Insights & Opportunities is a twice-monthly newsletter for educators, administrators, legislators, and advocates who recognize the importance of informal STEM learning.
This newsletter is brought to you by me, Sarah Dunifon, and my team at Improved Insights. I’m a long-time STEM educator, researcher, and equity advocate. Along with my team, I now work on cutting-edge informal STEM learning research and evaluation.
Each edition of this newsletter offers exciting insights, resources, and opportunities for informal STEM learning professionals, including funding, jobs, professional development, informal STEM learning research, evaluation tips and resources, and so much more! We hope you find it valuable. Now, let’s get started.
Emphasizing Evaluative Criteria for More Focused, Inclusive Evaluations
In our last post on evaluating makerspaces and fab labs, we introduced the topic of “evaluative criteria.” In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how to approach the development of your own criteria.
What are they?
Evaluative criteria are areas of focus that inform the development of evaluation questions. In our previous post, we referenced literature that sought to identify evaluative criteria for library-based makerspaces. Some of the evaluative criteria outlined in this research included things like attendance, learning progress, interest, and mastery of skills.
Building on this idea, how might you define your evaluative criteria? There are a number of sources that can help with this process. Criteria may be drawn from individual perspectives of staff and program participants, literature reviews, previous evaluations, professional experience, your definition of success for your program or space, or from defined organizational objectives (among others).
To read the full article, check it out in our Insights.
60-Second Suggestions
Here are a few of my favorite things this month, usually pertaining to informal STEM education and evaluation, but occasionally some fun personal stuff, too.
As of March 25, 2025, InformalScience.org is back online, including the Informal STEM Community Resource Library (Repository), though there have been some changes to the website and communications. A full statement on resuming the website is available on the home page.
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is currently accepting nominations for the EE 30 Under 30 Class of 2025. The program recognizes individuals under 30 who are making a difference through environmental education. Awardees join a network of alumni and inspiring environmental education leaders and receive ongoing opportunities for professional development and networking. Nominate yourself or someone you know through May 12, 2025.
This brief from Afterschool Alliance presents findings from a survey of over 1,000 afterschool program providers conducted between October and December 2024. The report highlights areas of growth post-pandemic (e.g., increased capacity, support for students and families), as well as challenges within the field like funding and staffing. This is the 11th in a series of ongoing surveys tracking the afterschool field.
Opportunities
Check out these new opportunities for the informal STEM learning community.
Funding:
2025 Request for Applications, Native American Agricultural Fund (NAAF), variable. Nonprofits, educational, and other community-minded organizations serving Native farmers and ranchers are invited to apply for funding to support agricultural education, infrastructure and climate resilience, and business assistance, among others. Applications are due May 1, 2025.
Kubota Hometown Proud 2025, Kubota, $50,000 ($25,000 cash and $25,000 equipment voucher). Nonprofit organizations are invited to submit a community-based project for cash funding of up to $25,000 and a $25,000 voucher for Kubota equipment. Examples of previously funded projects include agricultural education centers, community parks, and open space preservation projects, among others. Applications are open April 3-May 9, 2025.
Research Grants on Reducing Inequality, William T. Grant Foundation, up to $600,000. Grants of up to $600,000 will be awarded to support research that builds, tests, or increases understanding of programs and practices that reduce inequality in academic, social, behavioral, and economic outcomes of those ages 5-25. Specific research interests include how various youth-serving programs (including out-of-school-time education) affect long-term outcomes for students. Applications are due May 7, 2025.
Spatial Thinking: Inspiring Action through Place-Based Solutions, The National Geographic Society, variable (Level I max of $20,000, Level II max of $100,000). Applicants over the age of 18 are invited to submit proposals for funding to support projects that identify place-based challenges and leverage educational solutions using spatial thinking to enable action. Two levels of funding (Level I and Level II) are accepting applications related to the focus areas of Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human Histories and Cultures, Planetary Health, and Space. Pre-applications are due May 5, 2025.
Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP), Burroughs Wellcome Fund, up to $60,000. Nonprofit organizations, including public and private schools, colleges and universities, and community groups in North Carolina are invited to apply for grants in support of diverse programs that enable K-12 students to participate in creative, hands-on STEM activities. Programs must employ inquiry-based avenues of exploration. Applications are due June 9, 2025.
Jobs and Fellowships:
Chief Experiences Officer, Wings Over the Rockies (Denver, CO), $76,500. The Chief Experiences Officer will lead and elevate the institution's education, exhibitions, public programs, collections, and guest experiences at both the Air & Space Museum and Exploration of Flight campuses. They will be a key member of the senior leadership team and will oversee the creation and implementation of dynamic, high-impact experiences. Applications are due April 18, 2025.
Civics and Environmental Education (CEE)-Change Fellowship, North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). NAAEE, ee360+, and Cedar Tree Foundation have launched the 2025 CEE-Change Fellowship to scale their impact working toward a more sustainable future. CEE-Change Fellows will strengthen their communities through a community-based environmental education action project. The fellowship will provide opportunities for leadership training, technical assistance, professional development, and access to a growing network of community leaders. Applications are due April 23, 2025.
Director of STEAM Engagement, Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum (Poughkeepsie, NY), $50,000. The Director of STEAM Engagement will develop and implement age-appropriate museum exhibits, activities, and programs for families with children ages 2-12, manage and report on the museum's ongoing educational programs, and work collaboratively to develop educational content and interactive floor programs. They will also collect data on programs through surveys and observations, analyze impact, and refine programs based on feedback.
Naturalist Intern Program, Foothill Horizons (Sonora, CA), $16.50/hour plus room and board. The Naturalist Internship invites those interested in becoming outdoor educators to apply for the program. Interns will create outdoor experience for visiting sixth-grade students, teachers, and counselors, including hiking, hands-on science educational encounters, and connection to the natural world. The internship will take place during the 2025-2026 school year.
Vice President of Guest Experience, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (Omaha, NE), $160,000. The Vice President of Guest Experience will collaborate with a team of department leaders to ensure safe, efficient, and guest-friendly operations, supporting the mission of the Zoo and driving growth. They will be responsible for revenue and overall performance of guest services and their teams, review current and evaluate future opportunities to enhance guest experiences at the Zoo, and establish guest feedback systems.
Professional Development:
2025 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, American Alliance of Museums (AAM), May 6-9, 2025 (Los Angeles, CA). The 2025 AAM Annual Meeting & MusemExpo will be held in Los Angeles, CA, May 6-9, 2025. The event will bring together 5,000+ attendees from museums of all types and sizes to focus on the theme of Museums & Trust. Advanced rates are available through May 5, 2025.
2025 Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences, Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences, May 27-30, 2025 (Portland, OR). The 2025 Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences will feature symposia, talks, collaborative discussions, and networking events, plus skills-building workshops and field trips showcasing the unique ecosystems and projects of the Pacific Northwest. The conference will be held May 27-30, 2025, in Portland, OR. Registration is open through May 19, 2025.
NAAEE 2025: Forward Together, North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), November 3-6, 2025 (virtual). NAAEE is seeking presentation proposals for its 54th annual conference. The conference will be held virtually this year, November 3-6, 2025, and NAAEE is inviting proposals from around the world that speak to the overall theme, “Forward Together.” Proposal submissions are due May 16, 2025.
Online Workshop: Creating Relevant and Meaningful STEM Experiences, National Informal STEM Education (NISE) Network, April 15, 2025 (virtual). Join the NISE Network as they explore the importance of relevance in STEM learning experiences. Learn successful strategies for place-based learning and how to discover what is relevant within your own community. NISE Network partners will discuss their experiences in co-creating with their communities to engage audiences more meaningfully in STEM. The virtual workshop will be held on April 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET.
Thanks for tuning in to this edition of Insights and Opportunities. While you’re waiting for the next edition, tell your friends! We appreciate you sending along a blog post you enjoyed, a job opportunity you think a friend should apply for, and resources you found valuable. Sharing this newsletter is the best way to support this work. Until next time - thanks!
