Adult Role Models in Science (ARMS)

Learning science through inquiry helps develop critical thinking and self-efficacy, and it improves grades across the board. The evidence is clear. Kids are not getting enough science in school, and what they do get may not be effective. Some children have access to science experiences outside of school, but the ones who don’t have these experiences are likely to be the ones who could benefit the most. And the number of these kids is growing. The ARMS Approach It takes a village to raise a scientist (or science-interested adult). ARMS coordinates an ongoing community-wide collaboration around K-8 science education, bringing existing programming, resources, and stakeholders together to make a lasting impact. This approach has enabled the creation of new science programming across Madison, and ARMS plays a key role in its development and ongoing support. Through trainings, courses, and other means, ARMS cultivates an ongoing corps of effective adult scientific role models. Why Role Models? Kids who believe science is for other people and not for them need more than an engaging science activity to change their minds…and their futures. It takes an adult scientific role model who knows and cares about them and can foster their enthusiasm for science learning and their belief that they can learn more. Potential scientific role models are all over—parents, classroom teachers, scientists, after-school teachers, college students studying science. ARMS helps them all become more effective at engaging children in science. If they are not already part of a school or program for children, ARMS connects them. The Impact ARMS has initiated and enabled up to 40 after-school science clubs each year, learning communities for teachers, a classroom volunteer program, dozens of Family Science events each year, and a middle school mentoring program with an annual city-wide symposium. ARMS has reached more than 5,000 people and trained more than 100 new mentors in a single year. History The ARMS collaboration was initiated in 1990 as a partnership between WISCIENCE (then the Center for Biology Education) and the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison. It was the brainchild of Lyle Hill and Bob Heidemen, who had ties to both organizations. The original programming, which focused on classroom volunteers, was developed by Hill, Heideman, and Dolly Ledin of WISCIENCE. The Kiwanis Club of Downtown Madison was the first organization to “adopt a school” through ARMS—Emerson Elementary, which is still involved with the program today.

Recruit, train and support adults to work as mentors and leaders for young people, engaging them in science and engineering.