Informal Education

Yes-2-Technology (Y2T) is a physical, life and earth science, IT and workforce development project for teens at the St. Louis Science Center. Funded by NSF’s ITEST program, the goal of the project is to provide disadvantaged teens with the opportunity to broaden their STEM and workplace skills and encourage them to consider further education and careers in IT or STEM.

The FunWorks is a digital library of career exploration resources for youth ages 11 to 15. The FunWorks provides “real world” experiences and uses children’s current interests and passions, such as music and sports, to help them explore exciting future careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The site was designed for and by children—over 300 young people have participated in the design and launch of this one-of-a-kind collection from the initial concept to design, usability testing, and launch.

EDC works with staff from the Jacob Burns Film Center (JBFC) to conduct evaluation planning for the See Hear Feel Film curriculum, which is designed to provide third grade students with an understanding of film and of themselves as creative beings, and is implemented in both in-school and out-of-school settings. EDC’s work focuses on clarifying student and teacher outcomes and determining indicators to measure change.

Global Kids has asked CCT to serve as the program evaluator and Global Kids’ formative research partner for the Playing 4 Keeps program. Global Kids have developed an innovative curriculum for engaging traditionally underserved youth in the development and dissemination of online games, called Playing 4 Keeps (P4K). The P4K games are designed by the program’s youth participants to educate their peers around the world about important social issues.

GSDL provides high-quality digital resources to: (1) help educators promote interest and engagement with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education by learners of all ages, particularly females; (2) encourage learners to pursue science education and future careers in science; (3) provide an inter-disciplinary examination of the role of gender in the creation, teaching, and learning of science; and (4) build community among all interested users for the purposes of inquiry, information exchange, best practices development, and mentoring.

Developed by Breakthrough Games, ICED (“I Can End Deportation”) is a single-player, downloadable video game that explores immigration challenges facing an immigrant teen living in an urban setting. As they traverse the city, players confront a series of ethical dilemmas that reflect the tenuous position immigrants occupy in American society. These dilemmas require players to decide between “civic-minded choices” and “remaining quiet” in order to avoid engagement with the law. Through the game, players learn facts about U.S.