Dimensions of Success Volunteer Recruitment

 The Alaska Afterschool Network is looking for volunteers to observe afterschool programs for the purpose of quality assessments across the State of Alaska. We are looking for volunteers in both urban and rural communities that can do local observations and give us a snapshot of the quality of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education in afterschool. For volunteers who must travel for observations, the Alaska Afterschool Network will reimburse the volunteer for travel costs.

Anyone can be trained in the DoS tool. Network partners can include passionate parents, afterschool professionals, college students in education or early childhood development, or corporate partners. Volunteers will have to commit to the following conditions:

1. Become trained DoS observers in exchange for $400 in compensation

   • Register for and attend one (1) of the following DoS Training sessions:

     • October 28th-29th, 2020; 10am-4pm ET. Deadline for Registration is October 19th

   • Complete DoS Calibration Exercises

   • Complete Two (2) Practice DoS Observations

2. Provide at least two (2) professional observations of STEM activities in afterschool or summer programs using DoS in exchange for $200 in compensation per observation

   • Work with the Alaska Afterschool Network to schedule observations

   • Compile and submit observation notes to the PEAR Institute

     • Observe the activity (usually 1-2 hours including travel)

     • Provide a 20 minute one-site coaching session with activity leader and site manager

     • Write up the ratings/evidence (about 30 minutes)

     • Upload data to the online database (10 minutes)

For more information email Jared Gould at ltegner@alaskachildrenstrust.org or call 907-248-7375

Why DoS?

High quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming provides young people with avenues to demonstrate mastery of STEM skills (i.e., critical thinking and problem solving), expand awareness of pathways to STEM higher education and careers, and inspire further exploration of the nature of the universe. Out-of-school time (OST) providers can play a key role in increasing student STEM proficiency, high school graduation rate, and STEM career interest by providing high quality STEM programming to the students who need it most.      

Five Alaska Afterschool Network partners are being selected to use the PEAR Institute’s STEM tools - the Common Instrument and Dimensions of Success (DoS) - to collectively evaluate and improve the quality of their summer STEM programming. DoS planning teams will review their cumulative results to assess their collective strengths and areas for improvement, and collaborate on improving in select areas, seeking additional resources from businesses and funders as needed.           

Key objectives for the Summer STEM Program Quality Pilot include:

1. Improve the quality of STEM programming for students during out-of-school time.

2. Increase resources available to out-of-school time program providers to strengthen STEM programming.

3. Increase the Alaska Afterschool Network’s capacity to support organizations in continual program quality improvement process.

4. Increase the Alaska Afterschool Network’s understanding of the current quality of STEM programming during out-of-school time in Alaska.