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Multi-STEM is a research project that aims to promote the participation of multilingual children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Subprojects

Children with a migration background can encounter obstacles in Dutch education.

Developing multilingual strategies for STEM education

Multi-STEM wants to ensure that multilingual children feel seen and heard, and that they can fully participate in education.

Multilingual children possess knowledge and skills in their home language that are lost in a monolingual Dutch environment.

That’s why Multi-STEM is developing an approach where both Dutch and home languages can be used.

Allowing a child to use all of their languages not only improves school performance, but also ensures that the child feels seen and involved.

Recent Blog Posts

  • A partnership between researchers and a science museum: A joint reflection

    A partnership between researchers and a science museum: A joint reflection

    In this post, a researcher and a museum professional reflect on the co-design of bilingual instructions for a museum workshop for families. The goal was to make the workshop more inclusive and inviting to migrant families where parents and children may have different levels of Dutch proficiency. Check out the post to learn what our…

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  • The power of language portraits: Get to better know your students

    The power of language portraits: Get to better know your students

    A language portrait is a visual representation of the languages a person knows. Both educators and caregivers can use this simple, yet powerful tool. The power of language portraits rests in their potential to foster conversations where people can feel seen, heard, and valued.

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  • A parent perspective: Research Practice Partnerships

    A parent perspective: Research Practice Partnerships

    At Multi-STEM, we’re engaging in RPP’s (Research Practice Partnerships) in three contexts (home, science museums, school) to bring research and practice together. Working in RPP’s means working together with parents, caregivers, museum employees, teachers, school directors, and curriculum advisors throughout the research process, as each of these individuals provide a valuable perspective on supporting the…

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