Tools of the Trade II: Inspiring young minds to be SET* ready for life!

         © *Science, Engineering & Technology

All Tools of the Trade Workshops are only offered Face to Face

Tools of the Trade II is a staff-development guide that uses a “train-the-trainer” approach to deliver a comprehensive training for afterschool program frontline staff and youth workers on incorporating science, engineering, and technology (SET) into afterschool programming. Using a hands-on, interactive skill-building approach, it provides tools drawn from research and best practices to help afterschool staff enhance communication, management, and educational delivery of afterschool programs. Each session provides complete instructions, readily available supplies and session evaluations.

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•    Session 1: Inspiring Young Minds...The Scientist in All of Us – 2 Hours CURR
Science is everywhere! Kids are curious and love to learn about the world around them. Afterschool staff can play an important role in facilitating youth’s learning about science, engineering, and technology (SET).  This session provides an introduction to the Afterschool SET Ready for Life Checklist and elements for high quality SET programming in afterschool settings.

•    Session 2: Explore It! (Science) Design It! (Engineering) Use It! (Technology) - 2 Hours CURR
What does it mean to be scientifically literate? The American Association for the Advancement of Science describes a scientifically literate person as one who is aware that science, engineering, and technology are human enterprises and applies scientific content and abilities in meaningful ways. Understanding the relevance of science, engineering, and technology and the language of math in afterschool settings and how these complement each other is the focus of this session.

•    Session 3: SET Abilities for the 21st Century – 2 Hours CURR
Hearing a lot about science, engineering, and technology (SET) these days? In a fun and hands-on way, learn which SET abilities 21st century kids need for success and how your program can support the development of these skills and abilities in fun and interactive ways. Special emphasis is given to fostering observation skills, one of the most critical SET abilities.

•    Session 4: Hands On! Minds On!...Inquiry and Experiential Learning - 2 Hours CURR
Inquiry and experiential learning are natural ways to learn. This session introduces youth workers to the concepts of experiential learning and science inquiry. Understanding these concepts helps youth workers capitalize on kid’s interests, assure better learning outcomes and provide exciting learning opportunities for acquisition of science, engineering, and technology knowledge and skills.

•    Session 5: How Kids Learn Science and What It Means to Afterschool - 2 Hours CURR
Thanks to science research and more sophisticated engineered technologies, such as PET scans, we know much more about how kids learn and how educators can facilitate enhanced learning. This session will focus on three fundamental principles for learning as identified by the National Academics of Science: 1) attention to prior knowledge; 2) foundation of factual knowledge and understanding; and 3) learner self-regulation. This session builds on Session 4 which introduces inquiry and experiential learning as important strategies for effective learning.

•    Session 6: Kid Fit Science...Ages and Stages and SET - 2 Hours CURR (Coming Soon)
Afterschool programs often serve youth ages 5 to 14. Recognizing the different ages and stages of youth and applying this to science, engineering, and technology (SET) programming is critical to achieving desired youth outcomes. In this session, afterschool staff will review developmental stages of afterschool youth and learn how to facilitate SET with mixed- age groups. Applying the National Science Education Content Standards to age-appropriate practice is also covered.

•    Session 7: Creating SET-Rich Environments - 2 Hours CURR
Science is everywhere! Afterschool staff play an important role in developing SET learning opportunities, increasing youth’s natural interest, promoting learner-centered science and integrating science throughout the afterschool hours.  Science is not just topic to study, it is a way of thinking that can be applied to many components in the afterschool setting. This session uses a carousel of group-directed, mini-centers that feature ways to create SET-rich environments.

•    Session 8: Under the Microscope...How to Identify and Adapt SET Curriculum for Afterschool - 2 Hours CURR
Afterschool staff may be uncertain of how to select a science, engineering, or technology (SET) curriculum that meets the needs, interests, and ages of kids in their program. This session focuses on how to use a rubric for assessing quality SET curriculum and activities that will inspire kids to want to learn more!

•    Session 9: SET Everyday...Using Centers in Afterschool - 2 Hours CURR
This session focuses on knowledge-centered, learner-driven activities that can be easily delivered through centers in your afterschool program. Eleven elements of effective SET (science, engineering, and technology) learning centers are discussed.  Tips for facilitating and managing centers are also covered.

•    Session 10: Science and Literacy...Using Fiction and Non- Fiction Science Text in Afterschool - 2 Hours CURR
Books are an important element of science learning. This session focuses on how to select and incorporate a variety of science, engineering, and technology (SET) genre in afterschool programs to support children’s exploration and learning.

•    Session 11: Teens in Afterschool...What’s the SET Connection? - 2 Hours CURR
Teens can be engaged in afterschool in many ways. As mentors they can effectively involve younger youth in science, engineering, and technology programming. This session will look at youth-adult partnerships and how these partnerships can enhance the experience for younger youth and teens. The session also includes activities for preparing teens to be facilitators of science activities.

•    Session 13: Family Science...It’s Not How I Learned Science! - 2 Hours CURR
Involving parents and families in afterschool science, engineering, and technology (SET) programming produces real payoffs for youth, families, and afterschool programs. Afterschool staff have a powerful influence on sparking families’ interest in SET. Learn how to extend youth’s learning and increase their interest in SET through family science nights, family take-home backpacks, and other strategies that involve parents in your afterschool program.

•    Session 14: Ready SET Go!  SET in Afterschool - 2 Hours CURR (Coming Soon)
How do we use all that we know about science, engineering, and technology and learning in an afterschool program? This session includes a review of the Afterschool SET Ready for Life Checklist and how to use it in your afterschool program. Additionally, the session helps participants create an action plan for implementing the concepts presented in Tools of the Trade II: Inspiring Young Minds to be SET* Ready for Life (*Science, Engineering, and Technology.)