Studies show that children spend considerable time engaged in informal learning outside of educational settings. Informal educational settings such as museums can provide a variety of opportunities to engage children in STEM learning and scientific discovery, which can increase school readiness. Research has also determined an achievement gap in students from low socio-economic backgrounds and in students who are dual language learners. The literature shows that this gap begins even before children enter formal schooling. This systematic review serves two purposes: to explore the impact of informal STEM learning (ISL) on school readiness and to examine the relationship between ISL and children’s social-emotional development, particularly in children who are dual language learners. Using PRISMA procedures, we identified 36 eligible studies in this systematic review. The findings illuminate the important role of parents and/or caregivers and the quality of design and interventions used at ISL sites, such as museums and zoos, on how ISL can impact school readiness for preschoolers. No research was found to specifically address the impact of ISL on school readiness for children who are dual language learners. The implications from the findings suggest that further research is needed on ISL for young children, particularly considering the dearth in research on young dual language learners. The implications further suggest that parents, ISL site designers, facilitators, and educators can benefit from learning about the impact of ISL on school readiness.

The purpose of this study was to develop an effective evaluation tool to review course syllabi as a method for ensuring effective outcomes for interdisciplinary personnel preparation. A well-written course syllabus reflects the quality of the academic program in which the coursework is a part. A review of the syllabi across interdisciplinary programs is an attempt to align the quality of the courses and the graduate student competencies as set forth by each program. A syllabus evaluation form was developed and used systematically by three reviewers who gave each syllabus in the program a rating based on the three project target competencies and the listed indicators. For this project, three common components of syllabi were reviewed: learning outcomes, readings, and assignments. The findings suggest that a systematic syllabi review can be used to determine individual course alignment and for overall program evaluation. Findings also suggest that a syllabi evaluation form can be an effective tool to use in systematic syllabi reviews.