Dear Colleagues,
CADRE Advisory Board
We recently met with our national advisory group and as always, found their guidance and counsel to be very practical and wise. Thanks to the following advisors who attended the May 24-25th meeting at EDC: Phyllis Buchanan, Du Pont Corporate Education Program; Chad Dorsey, Concord Consortium; Solomon Friedberg, Boston College; Gary Goldstein, Tufts University; Okhee Lee, University of Miami; Barbara Means, SRI; and Suzanne Wilson, Michigan State. NSF DR K-12 Cluster leader, Elizabeth Vanderputten, also participated in a series of lively and informative discussions about ways to move the CADRE agenda forward. We focused particular attention on CADRE work groups/special interest groups, and strategies for getting out the word about DR K-12 resources, models, and technologies.
CADRE Groups
Each year, more of you have been participating in CADRE groups. We have not found a single model to be “the best”; participating awardees develop specific goals, products, and ways of working based on their professional and project-based needs and interests. A subgroup of the Digital Science Curriculum Group, with Jackie Miller as facilitator, will meet in DC this July with HOSP, the Hands-on Science Partnership, to look at creative partnerships between developers and publishers. The New Measurement Paradigms Group, under leadership of Mike Timms, is preparing a white paper examining various methods of technology-enhanced measurement and writing a session proposal for AERA. Diane Ketelhut and the Gaming Group are convening to define the parameters of a white paper they will co-develop in the fall. CADRE has been collaborating with other NSF resource networks (ARC, CAISE, ITEST, MSPnet) to plan cross-division support activities for awardees focused on engineering. Lastly, a CADRE small group is collaborating to produce and disseminate a guide for partnering with users to develop STEM education materials. If you or a group of DR K-12 colleagues have ideas for a small group, just let us know and we’ll be delighted to follow-up.
CADRE to Join Network Conversation at NSF
Because NSF STEM education programs have become increasingly collaborative and complex, a group of NSF staff has been asked to investigate various models for coordination and networking. In an attempt to learn about the pros and cons of existing approaches, NSF has invited CADRE, PIs of other coordination networks, evaluators, and researchers to meet on July 11 at NSF and share their experiences and views. We will provide a basic overview of: CADRE network features; how we facilitate resource sharing and foster communication; what we find to be challenging, what we are learning about what is working and not; how people and projects use the network; and what value CADRE offers for network members and beyond.
With best wishes for a good summer.
Barbara Berns
CADRE Principal Investigator