#886: Learner Pathway Analysis: An Approach for Evaluating STEM Persistence in Learning Ecosystems

Learning ecosystems provide children and youth with opportunities to explore STEM and non-STEM topics across in-school and out-of-school (OST) settings. Supporting learners in navigating the opportunities available to them across their local learning ecosystems is critical to ensuring learners can effectively investigate their interests. To do so, we introduce Learner Pathway Analysis (LPA), a Design-Based Research approach that operationalizes a pathways heuristic to evaluate STEM learning ecosystems. Building on patient pathway analysis in healthcare and other fields, LPA assists in longitudinal tracking of individual participation and transitions across programs. We illustrate the approach with TGR Foundation’s afterschool programs, showing how LPA reveals patterns of enrollment, continuity, and transitions. By combining conceptual framing, principled measurement, and practical tracking tools, LPA provides a framework for evidence-informed design and coordination of connected, interest-driven STEM learning opportunities.