Awesome video, 

If you are interested, here is a link to our video where we incorporate a student's community and culture in our teaching practices by gaining knowledge of culture internationally 

https://videohall.com/p/1468

Thank you for the example! 

Upham Woods is an informal science learning center. We have youth interact with our DOTS program both onsite and through our outreach efforts. On the outreach side of things, we work with various local partners as well as some of our developed relationships with certain schools within Milwaukee. Over the past couple years, we have created a network of partners within the Milwaukee area. check out some of work we have been doing on our website here: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/environmentaleducation/programs/milwaukee-green-stem/ 

To capture the work youth engage in while onsite at Upham Woods, we have them create scientific stories, or digital artifacts, which is a combination of their photos and narrative descriptions. Check out our DOTS at Upham Woods page to see some of those scientific stories: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/uphamwoods/programs/dots-at-upham-woods/ (just click on any school for an example) 

As for evaluating the impact our work has on participants, please check out our publication in the Journal of Experiential Education titled Bridging Natural and Digital Domains: Attitudes, Confidence, and Interest in Using Technology to Learn Outdoors here:  https://blogs.extension.wisc.edu/departmentalcomms/files/2019/01/Bridging-Natural-and-Digital-Domains.-JEE-2018.pdf

You can also see more related publications by Dr. Justin Hougham here: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/environmentaleducation/resources-and-links/

Through the EPA grant, we have direct partners who all work together in putting on this event. We also reach out to other partners within the Milwaukee Green STEM network for assistance with spreading the word about Science Strikes Back. Learn more about the Milwaukee Green STEM network here: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/environmentaleducation/programs/milwaukee-green-stem/

This event is unconventional for what one may consider as a science fair. The event is open to not just youth,or limited to specific age range, but to everyone of all ages within Milwaukee and surrounding areas. You can find an elementary school aged youth next to an adult showcasing their respective projects. The people who serve as judges for the event are community members of all levels - content experts at local organizations to high school students to retired folks. No one is limited to the ways they can participate. We also collect feedback from participants in efforts to capture attendees thoughts and suggestion on making the next iteration better.

In terms of goals, of course we wish to see the community science fair attendance grow. But even above that, we hope to increase community involvement beyond just attendance numbers. This year, we had an Escuela Verde student who was doing a pop-up shop as their senior project provide food for the event. To learn more about this project, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/saborverdemke/. Continuing to create those unique connections with the community members/organizations is definitely a goal we have for Science Strike Back, among others. 

Hi Michelle - the mentors are trained informal educators who are partners in this grant. 

Throughout the course of their project participants are encouraged to write scientific stories. These scientific stories provide a snapshot into their projects and give them a place to pick up where they left off. These stories use data, provide a narrative of where they are and give them direction for when they pick the project back up. You can find examples here: https://sites.google.com/view/uphamwoodsdotswat...

Hi Mary! While the work we do supports the community science fair, it is possible to transplant this project to other places. Science Strikes Back started as an adult science fair and grew within its community to be what it is today. Starting by organizing with passionate community leaders, adults, and local schools would be the best way to get one off the ground where you are.

Hi Joan! Thank you for visiting our video. I'm happy to hear about technology popping into education in thoughtful ways just West of us. Our dominant strategy for our technology integration is place based and inquiry education. Our technologies each enhance the observer's ability to document their experience and data. We use cameras as well professional grade equipment like mobile microscopes. You can find more information here https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/environmentaleducation/. Our PI has published about picking technology for education and that paper can be found here: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/environmentaleducation/resources-and-links/.  

I would love to hear more about your works as well. You're on the Hero Elementary project right? Have you all tried to use your approach into getting kids outside to practice environmentally based STEM education as a next step?