STEM Literacy, Civic Responsibility,
and Future Vision: Examining the
Effects of the Lawrence Math and
Science Partnership
Linda C. Foote PhD, Past Director LMSP
and Associate Professor in Health Sciences,
Merrimack College, North Andover MA
Lawrence Math and Science Partnership Exposition
Partnership between Merrimack College and afterschool
programs sponsored by middle schools or youth
agencies in the city of Lawrence MA, est in 2003
• Middle school students were recruited from charter
schools, Boys & Girls Club, Asian cultural center and
Hispanic youth development program.
• 273 middle school youth filled ~1000 slots over 3 years of
the study.
• 434 undergraduate students were recruited and supported
by the Stevens Service-Learning Center and participated in
a number of capacities; as mentors, curriculum
development and training, logistics and transportation,
summer camp counselors, and research assistants.
Lawrence Math and Science
Partnership - Exposition cont.
• Administrative and logistical support from the
Stevens Service-Learning Center.
• Directed by Assoc. Professor in Health Sciences
(.25 - .5 FTE dedicated to LMSP)
• Established in 2003, the LMSP originally funded by
Corporation for National and Community Service:
Learn and Serve America
• Additionally funded by corporations, foundations,
and private donors.
• Data described herein are based on the first 3 years
of operation, 2003- 2006.
• Happily, the Partnership continues and is funded by
the College and corporate and private donors.
Lawrence Math and Science Partnership
- Service-Learning
• Undergrads enrolled in Health Science, Education,
Liberal Arts and Business courses elected to add a S-L
component to their course work.
course work + specific STEM training + teaching, youth development, and
cultural diversity tips
filled community-based need for content and higher education
role models
undergrads reflected on their roles as instructors and mentors and wrote
and presented their experience - discovering how their service informed
their learning and how their learning informed their service.
Lawrence Math and Science
Partnership
- Characteristics of the Partnership
• Trained undergrads were transported weekly to
the afterschool programs to guide middle school
youth in hypothesis-based experiments and
activities that featured STEM content.
• Focused on constructivist and active learning,
youth were presented background, they then
made observations, formed hypotheses,
gathered, analyzed and presented their data.
• Week-long summer camp programs provided
youth with transportation to the college
campus, STEM curriculum, team building, and
fitness and health activities.
• Year long program fostered –STEM literacy as
well as intrinsic interest in STEM, postsecondary education, future vision and career
goals.
Lawrence Math and Science Partnership
-Challenges
• Semester-long commitment of professors and
undergrads in community service and S-L
projects. Some see it competing with personal
basic science research interests. Divisional
leadership resistant to dedicate FTE.
• S-L Center has only so much capacity to provide
logistical support.
• Community agencies loose site of “partnership”
and weaken in recruitment, oversight, training
efforts.
• Curriculum development had to be ongoing.
• Fund raising and grant reporting was time
consuming.
•
Lawrence Math and Science
Partnership
Lessons
Learned
Undergrads
–
–
–
–
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Service to community
Personal development
Cultural awareness
Making new college friends
Pre-service teaching experience
• Middle School Youth
– Inquiry-based STEM Literacy
– Future Vision and goals for post- secondary
education
• College Community
– Expanded S-L Opportunities
– Student leadership
– For Pre-service teachers, fosters knowledge
base of S-L and a new pedogogical
approach to teaching and learning