Design Make Play for Equity, Inclusion, and Agency: The Evolving Landscape of Creative STEM Learning

This pioneering book offers a resource for educators, policymakers, researchers, exhibit designers, and program developers that illuminates creative, cutting-edge ways to inspire, engage, and motivate young people about STEM learning in both informal and formal education settings.

A follow-up to the popular book Design, Make, Play (2013), this volume combines new research, innovative case studies, and practical advice from the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) to define and illustrate a vision for creative and immersive learning, focusing on STEM learning experiences that are truly equitable and inclusive, and that foster learners’ agency.

Featuring contributions from program developers, facilitators, educators, exhibit designers, and researchers, the book provides real-world examples from informal and formal settings that fill the need for high-quality STEM learning opportunities that are accessible to all learners, including groups underrepresented in STEM education and careers. Chapters of the book describe strategies such as using narratives to make engineering learning more inclusive, engaging English language learners in digital design, focusing on whole-family learning, and introducing underserved students to computational thinking through an immersive computer game.

This book offers both a challenge and a guide to all STEM educators in museums, science centers, and other informal and formal education settings who are seeking out ambitious and more equitable forms of engagement. With leading-edge research and practical advice, the book provides appealing and accessible forms of engagement that will support a diverse range of audiences and deepen their approach to creative STEM learning.

Harouna Ba is Director of the Sara Lee Schupf Family Center for Play, Science, and Technology Learning at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), as well as a senior research scientist specializing in children’s STEM learning across formal and informal educational settings.

Katherine McMillan Culp is Chief Learning Officer at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), where she oversees research, exhibition, and program development; educational and community outreach; and youth development programs.

Margaret Honey is President and CEO of the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) and leads the museum’s commitment to nurturing a generation of creative and collaborative problem solvers in STEM.