15-4 Importance of Relationships in Youth STEM Programming

Session: Geoscience Outreach Efforts to Broaden Participation, Part I

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

An integral pillar of impactful and effective youth programming is the relationships between the students and their peers as well as the students and their leaders of STEM education programs. Students perform better and are more engaged when they feel they have mutual relationships with the adults who implement the programming and the staff members leading the activities and learning.

Since relationships metrics can seem intangible, they can often be overlooked, so STEM education leaders need to prioritize fostering the sense of relationships through intentional methods with students throughout the students’ time in the learning space.

Part of the presentation will be modeling simple icebreakers or relationship building activities to supply program leaders with tools they can use to engage students in ways that are comfortable for the participants and allow them to see the leaders’ willingness to get to know each child individually.

After the presentation, the audience will understand the importance of sharing about themselves with students in STEM education and be equipped with a few simple ways they can use to foster the growth of relationships between student peers and with students and program leaders.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-8847

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