February 2025 Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

As we write this newsletter, we’re aware of the many recent changes that have taken place in the education research community. We encourage you to keep up with the latest guidance by regularly checking NSF's information page on the implementation of executive orders. CADRE remains committed to building the capacity of the DRK-12 community to advance research that improves preK-12 education to the best of our ability in these times of change.

CADRE is excited to mark the 15th anniversary of our Fellows program and introduce the 2025 CADRE Fellows! We encourage you to get to know these scholars and their research. The Fellows program will culminate at the 2025 DRK-12 PI Meeting on June 9-11. If you are on an invited project, register today for the PI meeting.

This month, we highlight artificial intelligence (AI) in STEM education and research. CADRE is adding a new brief on AI and learning to our series on AI in STEM education, which was featured in a recent Learning Series webinar titled Generative AI in STEM Teaching and Learning. This work will also be featured at an upcoming AERA session, where the authors will discuss key issues in AI for preK-12 STEM teaching and learning. Additionally, our Spotlight on AI in STEM Education Research features DRK-12 projects that are advancing innovative AI tools and strategies to enhance education.

Review the results of our annual Websites, Publications, and Presentations survey below to learn about project-related dissemination efforts, including upcoming conference presentations and recent publications. For those who haven’t done so, there’s still time to complete the survey. We’d love to hear from you! The information you provide will help us enrich your project page on cadrek12.org and feature your work in future newsletters.

Best,

The CADRE Team

Artificial Intelligence in STEM Education Research | Spotlight

AI

In this month’s Spotlight, we are excited to highlight CADRE briefs and Learning Series recordings focused on aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) in STEM education and feature seven projects that are leveraging AI to improve teaching, learning, and research. The Spotlight also includes two blogs on the potential for AI to transform game-based learning, AI related publications from DRK-12 products, and a list of additional projects working in this area.

In This Spotlight:

Meet the 2025 CADRE Fellows | Announcement

Collage of Fellows headshots

We are excited to announce the newest cohort of CADRE Fellows. Congratulations to this talented group of early career scholars! View their bios to learn more about their work and research interests.

  • Margaret Ann Bolick, Clemson University
  • Yin Hong Cheah, University of Idaho
  • Heidi Cian, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
  • Nicollette Frank, Broader Impacts Group, University of Montana
  • Min Jung Lee, University of North Dakota
  • Chris Pavlovich, Montana Technological University
  • Kenley Ritter, University of Idaho
  • Elizabeth Suazo-Flores, University of North Dakota
  • Yao Yao, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Visit CADRE's Early Career page for more information about the Fellows program, early career resources, and more.

View Bios

The Potential of Using AI to Improve Student Learning in STEM: Now and in the Future | New Brief

The cover of the brief, The Potential of Using AI to Improve Student Learning in STEM: Now and in the Future

In a new brief, authors Namsoo Shin, Kevin Haudek, and Joseph Krajcik explore how AI can serve as a transformative learning partner in K–12 STEM education. They describe theoretical foundations of using AI in STEM education and the importance of fostering an integrated understanding of STEM content. The brief examines AI's potential to offer personalized support, scaffold cognitive and metacognitive processes, and enhance student motivation and collaboration. Additionally, the authors consider how AI can promote access to STEM learning, while also addressing the need to identify and mitigate biases in AI system development to ensure broad and effective application.

This brief is part of a three-part series focused on AI in STEM Education. Find all three briefs in our latest Spotlight.

Read the Brief

DRK-12 Publications, Products, and Presentations | Resources and Events

We invite you to peruse a list of recent publications, products, and tools from DRK-12 projects to learn more about the findings and promising approaches emerging from colleagues’ work.

If you will be attending a conference this year, view this list of upcoming presentations to find opportunities to connect and learn from your DRK-12 colleagues. We hope you’ll let us know about your own plans to present!

This information is being gathered through our Websites, Publications, and Presentations survey. We encourage awardees to complete the survey (if you haven't already) to share DRK-12 conference presentations, recent publications, new products, and project websites. We will continue to update the lists as survey results come in.

Take Survey

Newsbites

News from NSF

News from NSF Networks

  • The EQR Hub published a brief and video for the project Demystifying How to Participate in NSF Funding: Lessons Learned from NSF-Funded Resource Centers.

News from DRK-12 Projects and Awardees

Awards and Recognition

Publications

Do you have news to share? Email cadre@edc.org.

Upcoming Opportunities

The following funding and publication opportunities, listed by deadline, may be of interest to you and your DRK-12 project members.

Funding

For more NSF funding opportunities, see CADRE's list of Upcoming NSF DRL EHR Solicitation Deadlines.
 

Publications

For other publication opportunities, including those with ongoing submissions, see CADRE's list of Publications for STEM Educators, Policymakers, and Researchers.
 
Conferences
For more conference information, see CADRE's list of Conferences for STEM Educators, Policymakers, and Researchers.
 

Career & Professional Development

A complete archive of our newsletters and announcements is available on cadrek12.org.