Dear Colleagues,
It has been a busy spring for CADRE and the DRK-12 community who have been working hard on dissemination and outreach efforts. Representatives from DRK-12 projects have been spreading the word about their research to other researchers and practitioners (including through the CADRE-organized AERA and NSTA sessions).
Awardees are finding ways disseminate to their research to policymakers. For those reaching out to policymakers, France Cordova's talking points from a recent AAAS meeting may be a helpful starting point, and the upcoming CADRE webinar on crafting messages for meetings with policymakers (see below) can serve as a primer.
DRK-12 awardees are also endeavoring to reach public audiences. A 2017 Pew Charitable Trust study found that the majority of Americans get science news from general news outlets. For those strategizing around getting their research into general news outlets, be sure to write so that the public (and reporters) can understand the research and have enough basic information to evaluate the claims. University and institutional public relation departments are a good place to start. News aggregators (e.g., ScienceDaily) may pick up the university release, and other outlets (e.g., Hechinger Report) may spot the news and spread it further! For more information on science communication, visit our sister network's website, CAISE's informalscience.org.
Spotlight on Visual Representations in Mathematics
Visual representations (VRs) in mathematics can serve as problem solving tools as well as help students understand abstract ideas and concepts. Within the DRK-12 portfolio, awardees are using VRs such as graphical representations, number lines, drawings of word problems, and more to enhance mathematical understanding.
In this Spotlight, five projects discuss the role of VRs in their work, how VRs are being implemented and tested, as well as emerging findi
- CAREER: Algebraic Knowledge for Teaching: A Cross-cultural Perspective (Grades 1-4)
- Developing Formative Assessment Tools and Routines for Additive Reasoning (Grades: K-3)
- INK-12: Teaching and Learning Using Interactive Ink Inscriptions in K-12 (Grades 3-5)
- Mathematical Learning via Architectural Design and Modeling Using E-Rebuild (Grades 6-8)
- Proportions Playground: A Dynamic World to Support Teachers' Proportional Reasoning (Grades 6-7)
New NSF Research.gov Proposal Preparation and Submission Site
Beginning April 30, proposers can choose to use Research.gov or the existing FastLane system to upload proposals. Note, however, that any proposal submitted through Research.gov will not be available in FastLane (and vice versa). Eventually, NSF's goal is to move proposal preparation and submission fully over to Research.gov.
2018 STEM For All Video Showcase
May 14-21 
Join us next month for the 2018 STEM for All Video Showcase. This year's showcase will feature more than 200 federally funded videos. Support your colleagues by joining in the discussions and voting for your favorite videos and projects. This is a great opportunity for early career researchers to learn from and interact with others in the field of STEM education research.
REMINDER: Webinar on Crafting Your Message for Conversations with Policymakers
May 2, 1-2PM EST
Join us for a virtual discussion on crafting appropriate messages for conversations with local, state, and national policymakers about preK-12 STEM education research.
Join us for a virtual discussion on crafting appropriate messages for conversations with local, state, and national policymakers about preK-12 STEM education research.
Panelists
Neil Canfield, Legislative Affairs Specialist, Office of Legislative & Public Affairs, NSF
Augustus Mays, Director of Government Relations, Office of Policy & Communications, WestEd
Rebecca Vieyra, K-12 Program Manager, American Association of Physics Teachers
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Project Tip: Instruments for Measuring Student and Teacher OutcomesAdvancing Online & Blended Professional Development through NSF's DRK-12 Program
On April 16, representatives from 12 DRK-12 projects gathered at AERA to share their work and emerging findings in a structured poster session on online and blended professional development (PD) in K-12 STEM education. Their posters are available on the CADRE website.
Discussant Barry Fishman reflected on the ways in which these projects are contributing to areas of needed research and on opportunities to advance the field going forward. During the reflection and discussion that followed, Fishman, presenters, and participants noted the need for more shared understanding around the critical features of high quality PD, the critical role of research and practice partnerships, and the importance and difficulty of designing for scale.
Newsbites from DRK–12 & NSF
We're pleased to share news from DRK--12 projects and people, as well as our sister resource networks who serve other NSF funding programs (ATECentral, CAISE, CIRCL, CS for All Teachers, MSPnet, and STELAR). In addition to our newsletter digest, we disseminate your news items on our website and social media.
News from DRK–12 Projects & Awardees
- Ocean Tracks - A Journey Through the Ocean: A Modern Approach to Science Education
Publication | A recent Scientia article features Ocean Tracks, a curriculum and online tool for exploring authentic animal tracking, human impact, and oceanographic data. - National Survey on Supporting Struggling Mathematics Learners in the Middle Grades: Executive Summary
Report | The Strengthening Mathematics Intervention Classes project recently shared results from a national survey that characterize the national landscape of mathematics intervention classes, including the content focus, staffing, structures, practices, and challenges faced. - Supporting Mathematics Teachers in the United States and Finland
Report | The National Academies recently released proceedings from a bilateral workshop, hosted and facilitated by the US National Commission on Mathematics Instruction, focused on preparing and supporting mathematics educators throughout their careers. Workshop video, presentations, and readings are also available. - New DataNugget: The Case of the Collapsing Soil
Activity | DataNuggets has released a new set of student activities and a teacher guide focused on how climate change is affecting soil in the Florida Everglades. - Zoombinis: A Game of Computational Thinking
Event | The Zoombinis project had a unique dissemination opportunity. They were featured as part of the Cambridge Science Festival in April.
Email cadre@edc.org to share news from your project.
News from NSF Networks
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2018 Spring ATE Webinar Series
Webinar | ATE hosted a three-part webinar series on sustainability strategies for ATE projects and centers. Sessions included Taking Stock and Planning for Success; Re-visiting Your Sustainability Goals in a Post-Grant World; and Succession Planning: How to Build a Plan So That Your Work Continues Without You. Slides and recordings are available. -
Classroom Practices for Modeling Virtual Reality
Webinar | On May 1 at 7:30pm EST, CS for All Teachers will host a webinar on virtual reality products for educators and their use in the classroom. -
Cultural, Cognitive, Experiential, and Attitudinal Influences on Computational Thinking Development
Webinar | On March 14, MSPnet hosted a webinar with STEM+C awardees Steven Moore and Roxana Hadad about their work on computational thinking. A recording of the webinar is available.
See our Upcoming CADRE & NSF Network Events page for ATE, CIRCL, CAISE, CS for All Teachers, MSPnet, or STELAR, events that may be of interest to you.
Upcoming Opportunities
The following funding, publication, and career opportunities, listed by deadline, may be of interest to you or your DRK-12 colleagues.
NSF Funding
- May 14 - Critical Techniques, Technologies and Methodologies for Advancing Foundations and Applications of Big Data Sciences and Engineering (BIGDATA)
- June 4 - Future of Work at the Human - Technology Frontier: Advancing Cognitive and Physical Capabilities (FW-HTF)
- June 11 - Cognitive Neuroscience (CogNeuro)
- July 2 - STEM + Computing K-12 Education (STEM+C)
- July 11 - Science of Learning (SL)
- July 18 (EHR Deadline) - Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
- July 24 (Letter of Intent for Research Initiation Awards) - Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP)
For more NSF funding opportunities, see CADRE's list of upcoming NSF DRL EHR solicitation deadlines.
Publication
- May 31 - Teaching Children Mathematics | Going Beyond the Gradebook - Using Student Work to Guide Instruction
- June 1 - Educational Leadership | When Teachers Lead Their Own Learning
- June 1 - Science and Children | Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions (PS2)
- June 1 - Science Scope | Oceans
For other publication opportunities, including those with ongoing submissions, see CADRE's list of Publications for STEM Educators, Policymakers and Researchers.
Professional
In Case You Missed It
Highlights from recent newsletters and announcements:
- DRK-12 Websites, Publications, and Presentations
- Modeling Twitter Chat & NSTA Sessions
- CADRE Postdoc Professional Growth Opportunity
A complete archive of our newsletters and announcements is available on cadrek12.org.