Early science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education sets the stage for future STEM learning. The purpose of this synthesis is to understand the findings from investments to improve prekindergarten (preK) and elementary science teaching from projects funded by the National Science Foundation’s Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program. In the 5 years spanning 2011–15, the DRK-12 program funded or cofunded 25 projects, totaling more than $60 million, related to improving preK and elementary science teaching. Our review identified 25 DRK-12 projects related to improving preK and elementary science teaching funded in 2011–15. We synthesized findings from 25 of those projects that produced products (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers) that described the project and outcomes. We synthesized the empirical findings from interventions in four common areas of investment: (a) preservice preK and elementary preparation programs, (b) in-service teacher professional development (PD), (c) instructional materials for preK and elementary teachers, and (d) strategies for diverse learners. Link to PDF: https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/Improving-Prek-and-Elementary-Science-Teaching--DRK-12-STEM-August-2022.pdf
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Modeling in Science Education: A Synthesis of Recent Discovery Research PreK-12 Projects
The report summarizes the results from recent research and development projects that focused on modeling and simulations in science education. The Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program of the National Science Foundation funded these projects as part of its mission to support the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in grades PreK12 through innovative educational approaches.1 This report synthesizes findings from 33 articles produced by 18 DRK-12 grants awarded from 2011 to 2015, all of which funded development of resources or instructional practices to support student modeling in PreK-12 science education. This synthesis had two broad purposes: to describe 18 modeling-focused DRK-12 projects with respect to the resources they studied and the methods they used, and to summarize the new knowledge these projects produced related to modeling instruction. Link to PDF: https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/Modeling-in-Scientific-Education-Synthesis-April-2022.pdf
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- Award ID(s):
- 1813777
- PAR ID:
- 10358422
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- American Institutes for Research
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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