Inspiring Young People in STEM: Planning and Organising Practical Activities from FutureLearn

This two-week, self-paced course will guide you through the planning stages for a volunteering activity, asking you to consider: Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course has been created for anyone volunteering with young people in STEM. This includes STEM Ambassadors in the UK, youth volunteering group organisers, field trip educators, scout groups (and similar), outdoor pursuit centres, outreach from NGOs. You will need knowledge of STEM subjects or experience of working in a STEM environment. To get the most out of this course, learners should complete the introductory course beforehand: You can use the hashtag #FLSTEMInspiring to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

What is engaging and inspiring for young people.
How to link activities with the STEM curriculum and other frameworks.
Discussing your activity with educators in schools and non-school settings.
Risk assessments, plans and practising activities.

Reviews summary

Essential planning for youth stem outreach

According to learners, this course is a highly practical guide for anyone involved in planning and organizing STEM activities for young people. Students particularly praise the clear guidance on risk assessments and linking activities to curriculum frameworks. Many found the downloadable templates and real-world scenarios incredibly useful, feeling it significantly boosted their confidence. While widely considered a solid introductory course that effectively lays out the planning process, some experienced practitioners found it too basic, wishing for more advanced strategies.

Helps link STEM activities with educational frameworks.

"I especially appreciated the clear guidance on risk assessments and linking activities to the curriculum."

"I found the section on curriculum links particularly useful for tailoring activities to school needs."

"It reinforced some of my existing knowledge and added new perspectives, especially on the importance of linking activities to their learning."

Serves as an excellent foundation for new STEM volunteers.

"This course was exactly what I needed to boost my confidence in planning STEM activities."

"A very solid course covering the essentials... for those starting out or looking for a structured approach, it's excellent."

"Good course for new STEM Ambassadors. It lays out the planning process very clearly."

Offers thorough and clear instruction on activity safety.

"I especially appreciated the clear guidance on risk assessments and linking activities to the curriculum."

"The information on risk assessment was thorough, which is a definite plus."

"It covers planning fundamentals but doesn't delve into innovative methods or address challenges... The information on risk assessment was thorough, which is a definite plus."

Provides actionable advice and useful resources for planning.

"The practical tips and downloadable templates were incredibly useful."

"It really helped me structure my STEM badge activities more effectively and ensure safety. The templates are a lifesaver."

"I found the practical advice invaluable; it helped me structure activities."

May lack depth for seasoned professionals in STEM outreach.

"Some parts felt a little basic, but for those starting out or looking for a structured approach, it's excellent."

"The course provided a good overview, but I was hoping for more advanced strategies, perhaps on managing larger scale events..."

"While the content is accurate, I felt it was too basic for someone with my experience in STEM outreach."

Career center

Learners who complete Inspiring Young People in STEM: Planning and Organising Practical Activities will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: