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Assessing STEM Experiences in Middle-School Students

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I am writing to let you know about an opportunity to participate in a research study about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning out of school. This study is being conducted by Dr. Bradley J. Morris at �鶹��Ƶ.

This study measures where children and families engage with STEM content outside of school. Because children spend about 80% of their lives outside of school, it is important to learn where children become interested in STEM and how these experiences influence their ongoing interest in STEM topics. To do this, we will ask families to use an app (SLATE) to measure their STEM engagement for two months.

You will be asked to use the SLATE app in two ways. One, you will be asked to use the app to “check-in” whenever you are engaged with STEM content and answer a brief set of questions. Two, you will be asked to visit three specific locations with the app, one physical location (The Great Lakes Science Center) and two web-based locations (ideastream, Irish Independent Newspaper) and answer a brief set of questions.

Time Commitment. We are asking families to use the app over a two-month period. This does not involve a significant amount of time every day but should be used to track engagement in STEM activities over time.

Compensation. You will be compensated in two ways. One, your family will receive a membership to Great Lakes Science Center and funds to cover parking and mileage. Two, you will be compensated to support one STEM-related trip every two weeks (approximately $30 every two weeks).

Who is eligible? We are looking for families with at least one child between the ages of 12 and 15. We are looking for up to 25 families to participate in this project.

If you would like additional information about this study, please contact Ida Cellitti at (icellitt@kent.edu) or 330-672-2166.

Thank you for your consideration, and once again, please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in learning more about our project.

Dr. Bradley J. Morris, Principal Investigator

Associate Professor, Educational Psychology

Co-Director, Science of Learning and Education (SOLE) Center

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330-672-0590

bmorri20@kent.edu

Assessing STEM Experiences in Middle-School Students Research Study

Do you have a child between the ages of 12 and 15?

Are you and your child interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics?

If you answered yes to both of these questions, you may be eligible to participate in a research project that is designed to measure where and how children and families engage with STEM content.

You will be asked to use an app over a two-month period that measures STEM engagement at specific STEM locations (like The Great Lakes Science Center) and during “check-ins” whenever you are engaged with STEM content. You will receive a family membership to Great Lakes Science Center and approximately $30 every two weeks for two months to cover the costs of engaging in STEM activities outside of your home.

Benefits include the opportunity to learn about and visit STEM locations as a family.

If you would like to learn more, please contact Ida Cellitti at 330-672-2166 or icellitt@kent.edu.