Developing a Scalable STEM Career Development Program for Elementary School-Aged Students.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science Education
• STEM Outreach

Background:

• Developing scalable and sustainable science curricula for elementary students presents challenges.
• Traditional methods often rely on costly resources, limiting accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a minimal-cost, scalable career development curriculum for elementary students.
• To expose young learners to scientific knowledge and careers in veterinary medicine.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative team developed low-cost, culturally responsive lessons.
• The curriculum was piloted and evaluated by a home team and teams in eight other states.
• Success was measured by child engagement and program adaptability.

Main Results:

• Seven of the eight external pilot teams successfully implemented the curriculum.
• Evidence of significant child engagement was documented.
• The low-cost model proved effective for scaling and sustainability.

Conclusions:

• A minimal-cost approach is a viable strategy for creating engaging and scalable veterinary science curricula.
• Accessible resources can facilitate the widespread adoption of STEM education programs.
• This model supports the long-term sustainability of science outreach initiatives.