Designing Deeper Discussions at AERA: Lessons from a Symposium on Ecosystem Approaches to STEM Learning

At this year’s AERA conference, we hosted a paper symposium exploring ecosystem approaches to STEM learning—particularly in support of low-income, culturally diverse youth. The session brought together three project presentations under one theoretical framing, giving us a unique opportunity to reflect across efforts with a shared lens.

The session brought together a focused group whose energy and engagement made for one of the most dynamic conversations of the conference. The participants brought insight, openness, and thoughtful questions that turned a traditional panel into a space for shared inquiry. We want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who joined us. Your reflections deepened the discussion in meaningful ways—and reminded us why we do this work.

Here are five takeaways we hope others can use when designing symposia or collaborative sessions that they hope become productive conversations:

Anchor the Session in a Shared Framework: Centering our talks around a common theme—the ecosystem approach—created coherence across diverse projects. It helped us collectively explore how learning environments are shaped by systems, relationships, and local contexts.

Try this: Frame your session around a guiding question or theory rather than just a population or method. A shared lens invites synthesis and sparks richer dialogue.

Reconfiguring the Physical Space: We left the presenter table and joined attendees in the audience. This small shift helped break down the formal barriers that often separate speakers from participants and made the room feel more conversational.

Try this: When possible, sit with your audience, move the chairs, or break up the front-of-room dynamic. These changes can signal that everyone’s voice matters.

Ask Attendees What Brought Them In: We began by inviting participants to share what interested them about the session. It not only surfaced diverse perspectives but also helped us respond in real-time to the room’s needs.

Try this: A simple opening question like “What are you hoping to get out of this session?” can build rapport, clarify goals, and energize the conversation.

Blend Research and Practice: The group included researchers, educators, and ecosystem leaders—people who don’t always attend the same sessions. That mix made for a richer conversation and expanded the relevance of our work.

Try this: Curate your session with collaborators across sectors. A variety of presenter roles will shift the depth and direction of the discussion.

Make Space for Implementation Talk: We noticed that questions moved quickly from findings to function: “How did the program actually work?” “What made it successful?” This interest in the doing of the work reminded us that practical wisdom is as valuable as empirical results.

Try this: Leave time for attendees to explore logistics, lessons learned, and the “how” of your work—not just the outcomes.

Reflecting on this session, we see new possibilities: What if we hosted more small-group, cross-project conversations—virtually or in person—that encouraged this kind of shared thinking? What if we opened more space for informal, practitioner- and research-informed, real-world dialogue?

To everyone who attended: thank you for showing up, asking questions, and staying late. You made the conversation what it was, and we’re excited to keep it going.

Posted May 1, 2025