The CADRE Team
As part of NSF’s Discovery Research PreK–12 (DRK–12) program, your project is not only advancing knowledge in STEM education; it’s also helping shape a national story of innovation and impact. How can your team best document and communicate this contribution? Here are ways DRK–12 projects can frame their outcomes to amplify the broader NSF impact narrative across sectors:
Highlight Improved Teaching and Learning
Share evidence of how your project has shifted classroom practice or student learning. This might include:
- Increases in student STEM achievement or engagement
- Teacher-reported changes in instructional strategies
- District or school adoption of new curricula or tools
Showcase Strategic Curricula and Professional Development (PD) Design
Document how your project contributes to scalable, standards-aligned curricula and professional development. Capture:
- Educator participation rates and learning gains
- Integration with district or state frameworks
- Examples of adaptability for diverse learners and settings
Tell a Story of Collaboration and Capacity-Building
Emphasize how your project fosters cross-institutional collaboration, builds educator capacity, or supports early career researchers. Consider using:
- Network maps or stories of researcher–practitioner partnerships
- Contributions to mentoring programs
- Evidence of cross-sector or community engagement
Connect to Policy and Systems Change
Position your findings in the context of broader systemic challenges. Track:
- Influence on district policies or instructional guidelines
- Inclusion in state or national reports
- Citations in legislative or administrative decisions
Document Innovation and Dissemination
Show how your research is pushing boundaries or informing the field. Share:
- Peer-reviewed publications, blogs, and briefs
- Examples of novel methodologies or technologies
- Uptake by educators, researchers, or curriculum developers
Lift Student and Community Voices
Bring your impact to life by centering the experiences of learners, teachers, and community members. Collect:
- Student reflections or testimonials
- Educator narratives of classroom transformation
- Examples of community involvement in STEM events or co-design
Your work is more than a funded project—it’s a building block in the national effort to transform STEM education. By documenting and sharing your impact with intention, you help showcase how DRK–12 research fuels discovery and prepares the next generation of STEM learners and leaders. Visit CADRE’s Dissemination Toolkit to access tools to help you tell your story. When your story is ready, send it to CADRE; we’ll help broadcast it.