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From Makers to Mentors: Building STEM Learner and Teacher Identities

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Title: From Makers to Mentors: Building STEM Learner and Teacher Identities
Language: English
Authors: Isabella Lorena Contreras, Boa Sarabia, Claire Gillaspie, Jess Jensen, Jasmine Nation
Source: Afterschool Matters. 2026 (40):12-24.
Availability: National Institute on Out-of-School Time. Wellesley Centers for Women, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. Tel: 781-283-2547; Fax: 781-283-3657; e-mail: niost@wellesley.edu; Web site: http://www.niost.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
Grade 3
Primary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Grade 5
Middle Schools
Grade 6
Descriptors: Self Concept, Professional Identity, STEM Education, Shared Resources and Services, After School Programs, Program Implementation, Undergraduate Students, Facilitators (Individuals), Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, College School Cooperation, Service Learning, Universities, Elementary School Students, Mentors, Public Schools, Student Attitudes, Teacher Researchers, Student Diversity
Geographic Terms: California
Abstract: In this article, the authors consider the programmatic elements that influenced STEM identity development for undergraduate facilitators and provide recommendations for supporting facilitators in out-of-school-time (OST) STEM learning environments. The authors introduce their afterschool making program at two public elementary schools in California. They expand on their experiences as undergraduate facilitators leading and researching maker activities that were developed to encourage positive STEM identity development for diverse groups of third through sixth graders. To focus on supporting undergraduate facilitators' STEM identity development, the study asked the following research questions: (1) What factors support facilitators in developing confidence and competency in teaching STEM? and (2) What recommendations do undergraduate facilitators have for those who want to implement afterschool makerspace activities? The research team consisted of two faculty advisors and three undergraduate researchers who acted as teacher-researchers. A focal group of five students who participated in the program for multiple quarters were purposefully selected for interviews because of their extended participation. Facilitators with more than one year of program experience were invited to be interviewed. Interviews included questions about participants' roles, teaching philosophy and STEM identity, focusing on their feelings of competence, learning, and teaching STEM content. Findings indicate that a shift in the facilitators' STEM identity stemmed from three factors: (1) a new perspective on STEM as everyday problem solving; (2) a focus on productive failure in maker activities and teaching; and (3) recognition by others as a STEM person.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495834
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: From Makers to Mentors: Building STEM Learner and Teacher Identities
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Isabella+Lorena+Contreras%22">Isabella Lorena Contreras</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Boa+Sarabia%22">Boa Sarabia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Claire+Gillaspie%22">Claire Gillaspie</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jess+Jensen%22">Jess Jensen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jasmine+Nation%22">Jasmine Nation</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Afterschool+Matters%22"><i>Afterschool Matters</i></searchLink>. 2026 (40):12-24.
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  Data: National Institute on Out-of-School Time. Wellesley Centers for Women, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. Tel: 781-283-2547; Fax: 781-283-3657; e-mail: niost@wellesley.edu; Web site: http://www.niost.org
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  Data: 13
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  Data: National Science Foundation (NSF)
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Identity%22">Professional Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+Education%22">STEM Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Shared+Resources+and+Services%22">Shared Resources and Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22After+School+Programs%22">After School Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Implementation%22">Program Implementation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Facilitators+%28Individuals%29%22">Facilitators (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+6%22">Grade 6</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+School+Cooperation%22">College School Cooperation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Service+Learning%22">Service Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mentors%22">Mentors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Schools%22">Public Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Researchers%22">Teacher Researchers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Diversity%22">Student Diversity</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In this article, the authors consider the programmatic elements that influenced STEM identity development for undergraduate facilitators and provide recommendations for supporting facilitators in out-of-school-time (OST) STEM learning environments. The authors introduce their afterschool making program at two public elementary schools in California. They expand on their experiences as undergraduate facilitators leading and researching maker activities that were developed to encourage positive STEM identity development for diverse groups of third through sixth graders. To focus on supporting undergraduate facilitators' STEM identity development, the study asked the following research questions: (1) What factors support facilitators in developing confidence and competency in teaching STEM? and (2) What recommendations do undergraduate facilitators have for those who want to implement afterschool makerspace activities? The research team consisted of two faculty advisors and three undergraduate researchers who acted as teacher-researchers. A focal group of five students who participated in the program for multiple quarters were purposefully selected for interviews because of their extended participation. Facilitators with more than one year of program experience were invited to be interviewed. Interviews included questions about participants' roles, teaching philosophy and STEM identity, focusing on their feelings of competence, learning, and teaching STEM content. Findings indicate that a shift in the facilitators' STEM identity stemmed from three factors: (1) a new perspective on STEM as everyday problem solving; (2) a focus on productive failure in maker activities and teaching; and (3) recognition by others as a STEM person.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495834
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1495834
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Self Concept
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional Identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Shared Resources and Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: After School Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Implementation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Facilitators (Individuals)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 3
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 4
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 5
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 6
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College School Cooperation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Service Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Universities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mentors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Researchers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Diversity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: California
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: From Makers to Mentors: Building STEM Learner and Teacher Identities
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            NameFull: Jess Jensen
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