Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 30, 2024
By Debra Shapiro

Safety Blog
Preschool–Grade 2 Science/Engineering Hands-On Activity Safety Protocols
By Ken Roy
Posted on 2024-04-19

Suminoe Oysters Redux
A Continuing Case of Environmental Rehabilitation
By Matthew L. Simon

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 23, 2024
By Debra Shapiro

Freebies and Opportunities for Science and STEM Teachers, April 16, 2024
By Debra Shapiro

Legislative Update
Congress Finalizes FY24 Funding; ESSER Funding; and State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2024
By NSTA Legislative Affairs and Advocacy Team
Posted on 2024-04-11

Program Evaluation in Formal and Informal STEM Learning Environments
Evaluation Insights is a new column about program evaluation that will help readers build their capacity as program evaluators.
Evaluation Insights is a new column about program evaluation that will help readers build their capacity as program evaluators.
Evaluation Insights is a new column about program evaluation that will help readers build their capacity as program evaluators.
Best Practices for STEM-Focused Mobile Instructional Spaces
Mobile instructional spaces such as retrofit buses, customized trucks or trailers, and repurposed shipping containers are innovative, unique venues for teaching and learning. STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces have emerged as vehicles for providing students and teachers with high-quality integrated STEM learning experiences that emphasize professional practices and 21st-century skills alongside a range of STEM content. In this article, we describe three best practices (creating a shared culture, fostering agency, and offering multiple pathways for engagement) for operating a STEM-focused mobile instructional space with K–12 students and teachers. We developed these best practices based on our own extensive work with two STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces, the BioBus and the MakerTruck. These practices have the potential to inform the work of formal and informal STEM educators who also operate mobile instructional spaces. Next steps for cementing the unique role STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces play in bridging the gap between in-school and out-of-school learning are discussed.
Mobile instructional spaces such as retrofit buses, customized trucks or trailers, and repurposed shipping containers are innovative, unique venues for teaching and learning. STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces have emerged as vehicles for providing students and teachers with high-quality integrated STEM learning experiences that emphasize professional practices and 21st-century skills alongside a range of STEM content.
Mobile instructional spaces such as retrofit buses, customized trucks or trailers, and repurposed shipping containers are innovative, unique venues for teaching and learning. STEM-focused mobile instructional spaces have emerged as vehicles for providing students and teachers with high-quality integrated STEM learning experiences that emphasize professional practices and 21st-century skills alongside a range of STEM content.
