Engineering

A Review of DR K–12 English Language Learner Projects and Their Contribution to Research

Day
Wed

This session explores the role of funding programs in shaping research agendas. The springboard for discussion is a case study that investigated DR K12 contribution to research in science and mathematics education for English language learners.

Date/Time
-
2014 Session Types
Mini-plenary Presentation

This session explores the role of funding programs in shaping research agendas through deliberate and targeted funding for priority areas. With the English language learner (ELL) population in U.S. schools on the rise and a growing demand for expansion and development of STEM education, intersecting research in these two fields represents an important effort to address pressing issues in U.S. schools and the STEM workforce.

A Grand Opportunity: Synergy and Interoperability Across Educational Games and Simulations

Day
Wed

Join this lively, interactive discussion examining the opportunities for coordinating work in games and simulations. Discuss and plan embedding, data capture/analytics, customization, and more!

Date/Time
-
2014 Session Types
Collaborative Panel Session

The advent of today’s widespread educational technology presents some new and exciting opportunities. Models and simulations can be easily embedded in other content. Research is exploring the use of simulations and games for novel assessment purposes. Technologies—especially HTML5 technologies—are making formerly unprecedented learning possible. This moment is unique, and as educational designers and researchers, we should be making the most of it and ensure that our work is aligned for maximum synergy.

Moving Toward Collective Impact on Climate and Global Change Education

Day
Tues

Participants discuss and identify what coordination is needed across DR K12 efforts to enable sustained collective impact on the issues presented by climate, global, and environmental change.

Date/Time
-
2014 Session Types
Collaborative Panel Session

DR K12 projects have been funded to conduct (1) activities and develop materials that are beneficial to the STEM education community (teachers and students) and (2) education research to ensure continuous improvement of these activities and materials.

Innovations in Early Childhood STEM Curricula and Professional Development

Day
Tues

This poster symposium features six preschool projects across STEM domains that have developed curricula and provided teachers with supports for motivating all children’s engagement with STEM.

Date/Time
-
2014 Session Types
Structured Poster Session

The collective work represented in this session responds to reports that the United States’ competitive advantage lies in its role as a technological innovation leader and to proposals that individual interest in innovation should be fostered early to avoid stereotypes and other impediments to entering the innovation pipeline.

Engineering SIG

Day
Tues

(Open to all grantees)
This group discusses current research and practice in K-12 engineering education and issues related to content and delivery.

Date/Time
-
2014 Session Types
Special Interest Group (SIG)

STEM Smart Brief: Preparing Students for College and Careers in STEM

Author/Presenter

CADRE

Year
2013
Short Description

"The majority of U.S. students, particularly low-income and minority youth, lacks foundational skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics." Read the brief to learn more about preparing students for college and careers in STEM.

STEM Smart Brief: Nurturing STEM Skills in Young Learners, PreK–3

Author/Presenter

CADRE

Year
2013
Short Description

Current data on school readiness and early math and science achievement indicate we are not giving young children the support they need to be “STEM Smart”. Read this brief on nurturing STEM skills in young learners.

A Targeted Study of Gaming and Simulation Projects in DR K-12

The NSF’s Discovery Research K-12 (DR K-12) program is one potential source of funding for the needed research on the educational effectiveness of gaming and simulations. The DR K-12 program seeks to enhance the teaching and learning of STEM in K-12 education by funding the “development, testing, deployment, effectiveness, and/or scale-up of innovative resources, models, and tools”4 in STEM areas. This work takes on many forms within the funding portfolio, including computer games and simulations.

Author/Presenter

Barbara Brauner Berns

Amy Busey

Alina Martinez

Uma Natarajan

Sarah Sahni

Sally Wu

Year
2014
Short Description

The NSF’s Discovery Research K-12 (DR K-12) program is one potential source of funding for the needed research on the educational effectiveness of gaming and simulations. The DR K-12 program seeks to enhance the teaching and learning of STEM in K-12 education by funding the “development, testing, deployment, effectiveness, and/or scale-up of innovative resources, models, and tools”4 in STEM areas. This work takes on many forms within the funding portfolio, including computer games and simulations. With the growing attention to these types of educational technologies, the Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education (CADRE) conducted a brief targeted study to better understand the gaming and simulation research and development work being funded within the NSF’s DR K-12 program and to highlight work that may help fill the gaps identified by the NRC.

Articulating the Components of Inclusive STEM High Schools

A PPT presentation on Articulating the Components of Inclusive STEM High Schools. Presented at STEMx Conference.

Author/Presenter

Melanie LaForce

Liz Bancroft

Year
2014
Short Description

A PPT presentation on Articulating the Components of Inclusive STEM High Schools. Presented at STEMx Conference.