College of Education faculty member explores how parents support science learning at home

Julianne Wenner, associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, has developed an innovative survey aimed at understanding how parents engage their children in science learning at home. The study seeks to uncover the different ways families incorporate scientific exploration into their daily routines, providing valuable insight for educators.

Parents who chose to participate in the survey answered various questions about their involvement in their child’s science education. The responses painted a vivid picture of the enthusiasm and creativity many families bring to learning outside the classroom.

“The overall purpose is to develop a reliable survey tool that helps schools understand what science learning is already happening at home,” Wenner said.

By collecting this data, she hopes to provide schools with meaningful insights that can enhance science education by building on students’ existing knowledge and interests.

One parent shared that her child is absolutely captivated by science—it’s all he wants to do. Their home activities include outdoor gardening, conducting experiments inspired by educational programs on ETV and frequently searching for answers to science-related questions on Google. The child also has a passion for collecting interesting rocks, which has become a cherished family activity.

Another parent revealed that science learning naturally became part of their household due to her background in nursing. Her son was always eager to participate in her studies, often asking to learn alongside her. To nurture his curiosity, she purchases at-home chemistry kits, which he constantly requests more of during their trips to Target. His interest extends to human anatomy, and thanks to his mother’s profession, they have a study skeleton at home with internal body parts, allowing them to explore and learn together.

Dorchester School District 4 and the School District of Pickens County had over 300 families participate in the survey. To encourage participation and further promote parental engagement in science learning, families who completed the survey had the option to enter a prize drawing. Wenner provided a variety of prizes, including 25 $50 gift cards, 15 $100 gift cards and five iPads per school. Additionally, schools that encouraged at least 20% participation received $1000 of science supplies for their classrooms.

This survey serves as a significant step toward strengthening the connection between home and school science education. With the data collected, Wenner’s findings will help schools recognize the valuable role parents play in fostering scientific curiosity and provide strategies to support and expand science learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom.

For more on Wenner’s research motivations and the background of the study, click here.