The Worlds of Connections team has been creating, piloting, evaluating, and refining network science activities for middle-school-aged youth in both virtual and in-person informal settings. Throughout Spring 2021, NE STEM 4U Program Coordinator and STEM Professional Development Educator Nik Stevenson guided a team of NE STEM 4U undergraduate mentors in refining network science activities, which were tested in Omaha clubs.
They also piloted two activities in Lincoln during a four-day Community Learning Center session at Dawes Middle School from June 1–4. To make fun, engaging activities that give youth exposure to network science concepts used in health research, WoC internal evaluator Dr. Amy Spiegel conducted extensive formative evaluation throughout the activity development process.
Four network science activities, “Ecology,” “Genealogy,” “Fish Supply,” and “Play Dough Liaisons,” will appear in a published book of NE STEM 4U informal STEM activities. The book will be available for download on the NE STEM 4U: Omaha website: https://www.unomaha.edu/academic-affairs/ne-stem-for-u/