In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on STEM education in the United States, fueled by evidence that young learners' competencies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are falling behind those of their global peers. Scholars and practitioners are beginning to utilize the new pedagogical opportunities offered by mobile learning to improve the successes of teachers and K-12 students across STEM subjects. Mobile Learning and STEM: Case Studies in Practice is a comprehensive collection of case studies that explore mobile learning's support of STEM subjects and that utilize mobile technology to facilitate unique and effective K-12 teaching and learning experiences. In addition to its focus on STEM achievement for researchers, this volume is a resource for teachers working to implement mobile learning initiatives into their classrooms. Mobile Learning and STEM also includes research that is applicable to classrooms in nations around the world, where few students from underrepresented racial and socioeconomic backgrounds are entering into STEM jobs. Concluding with a summary of its research and its implications to future scholarship and practice, this book is a springboard for practitioners, specialists, higher education instructors, and researchers who want to establish better practices in schools and raise student achievement in STEM subjects.

In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on STEM education in the United States, fueled by evidence that young learners' competencies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are falling behind those of their global peers. Scholars and practitioners are beginning to utilize the new pedagogical opportunities offered by mobile learning to improve the successes of teachers and K-12 students across STEM subjects. Mobile Learning and STEM: Case Studies in Practice is a comprehensive collection of case studies that explore mobile learning's support of STEM subjects and that utilize mobile technology to facilitate unique and effective K-12 teaching and learning experiences. In addition to its focus on STEM achievement for researchers, this volume is a resource for teachers working to implement mobile learning initiatives into their classrooms. Mobile Learning and STEM also includes research that is applicable to classrooms in nations around the world, where few students from underrepresented racial and socioeconomic backgrounds are entering into STEM jobs. Concluding with a summary of its research and its implications to future scholarship and practice, this book is a springboard for practitioners, specialists, higher education instructors, and researchers who want to establish better practices in schools and raise student achievement in STEM subjects.

Reconceptualizing STEM Education explores and maps out research and development ideas and issues around five central practice themes: Systems Thinking; Model-Based Reasoning; Quantitative Reasoning; Equity, Epistemic, and Ethical Outcomes; and STEM Communication and Outreach. These themes are aligned with the comprehensive agenda for the reform of science and engineering education set out by the 2015 PISA Framework, the US Next Generation Science Standards and the US National Research Council's A Framework for K-12 Science Education. The new practice-focused agenda has implications for the redesign of preK-12 education for alignment of curriculum-instruction-assessment; STEM teacher education and professional development; postsecondary, further, and graduate studies; and out-of-school informal education. In each section, experts set out powerful ideas followed by two eminent discussant responses that both respond to and provoke additional ideas from the lead papers. In the associated website < http://waterbury.psu.edu/summit/> highly distinguished, nationally recognized STEM education scholars and policymakers engage in deep conversations and considerations addressing core practices that guide STEM education.

Reconceptualizing STEM Education explores and maps out research and development ideas and issues around five central practice themes: Systems Thinking; Model-Based Reasoning; Quantitative Reasoning; Equity, Epistemic, and Ethical Outcomes; and STEM Communication and Outreach. These themes are aligned with the comprehensive agenda for the reform of science and engineering education set out by the 2015 PISA Framework, the US Next Generation Science Standards and the US National Research Council's A Framework for K-12 Science Education. The new practice-focused agenda has implications for the redesign of preK-12 education for alignment of curriculum-instruction-assessment; STEM teacher education and professional development; postsecondary, further, and graduate studies; and out-of-school informal education. In each section, experts set out powerful ideas followed by two eminent discussant responses that both respond to and provoke additional ideas from the lead papers. In the associated website < http://waterbury.psu.edu/summit/> highly distinguished, nationally recognized STEM education scholars and policymakers engage in deep conversations and considerations addressing core practices that guide STEM education.

Computing in some form touches nearly every aspect of day to day life and is reflected in the ubiquitous use of cell phones, the expansion of automation into many industries, and the vast amounts of data that are routinely gathered about people's health, education, and buying habits. Computing is now a part of nearly every occupation, not only those in the technology industry. Given the ubiquity of computing in both personal and professional life, there are increasing calls for all learners to participate in learning experiences related to computing including more formal experiences offered in schools, opportunities in youth development programs and after-school clubs, or self-initiated hands-on experiences at home. At the same time, the lack of diversity in the computing workforce and in programs that engage learners in computing is well-documented. It is important to consider how to increase access and design experiences for a wide range of learners. Authentic experiences in STEM - that is, experiences that reflect professional practice and also connect learners to real-world problems that they care about - are one possible approach for reaching a broader range of learners. These experiences can be designed for learners of all ages and implemented in a wide range of settings. However, the role they play in developing youths' interests, capacities, and productive learning identities for computing is unclear. There is a need to better understand the role of authentic STEM experiences in supporting the development of interests, competencies, and skills related to computing. Cultivating Interest and Competencies in Computing examines the evidence on learning and teaching using authentic, open-ended pedagogical approaches and learning experiences for children and youth in grades K-12 in both formal and informal settings. This report gives particular attention to approaches and experiences that promote the success of children and youth from groups that are typically underrepresented in computing fields. Cultivating Interest and Competencies in Computing provides guidance for educators and facilitators, program designers, and other key stakeholders on how to support learners as they engage in authentic learning experiences. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Barriers and Supports for Learners in Computing 3 How Learning Happens in Authentic Experiences for Computing 4 Authentic Experiences for Computing: Reviewing the Impact 5 Learning Spaces Outside of School Time 6 Computing Experiences in Schools 7 Designing Authentic Experiences for Computing 8 Conclusions, Recommendations, and Research Agenda References Appendix A: Search Strategy and Data Coding Appendix B: Committee and Staff Biographies

With an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) training, Teacher Learning in the Digital Age examines exemplary models of online and blended teacher professional development, including information on the structure and design of each model, intended audience, and existing research and evaluation data. From video-based courses to just-in-time curriculum support platforms and MOOCs for educators, the cutting-edge initiatives described in these chapters illustrate the broad range of innovative programs that have emerged to support preservice and in-service teachers in formal and informal settings. "As teacher development moves online," the editors argue, "it's important to ask what works and what doesn't and for whom," They address these questions by gathering the feedback of many of the top researchers, developers, and providers working in the field today. Filled with abundant resources, Teacher Learning in the Digital Age reveals critical lessons and insights for designers, researchers, and educators in search of the most efficient and effective ways to leverage technology to support formal, as well as informal, teacher learning.

Participants in this workshop were asked to explore three related questions: (1) how to create measures of undergraduate learning in STEM courses; (2) how such measures might be organized into a framework of criteria and benchmarks to assess instruction; and (3) how such a framework might be used at the institutional level to assess STEM courses and curricula to promote ongoing improvements. The following issues were highlighted: Effective science instruction identifies explicit, measurable learning objectives. Effective teaching assists students in reconciling their incomplete or erroneous preconceptions with new knowledge. Instruction that is limited to passive delivery of information requiring memorization of lecture and text contents is likely to be unsuccessful in eliciting desired learning outcomes. Models of effective instruction that promote conceptual understanding in students and the ability of the learner to apply knowledge in new situations are available. Institutions need better assessment tools for evaluating course design and effective instruction. Deans and department chairs often fail to recognize measures they have at their disposal to enhance incentives for improving education. Much is still to be learned from research into how to improve instruction in ways that enhance student learning. Table of Contents Front Matter 1 Introduction 2 Identifying Desired Student Learning Outcomes 3 Evaluating Effective Instruction 4 Promoting Effective Instruction at Departmental and Institutional Levels 5 General Discussion 6 Epilogue References A Commissioned Papers B Reference Paper C Workshop Agenda D Workshop Participants E Biographical Sketches of Workshop Attendees

Bolstered by new standards and new initiatives to promote STEM education, engineering is making its way into the school curriculum. This comprehensive introduction will help elementary educators integrate engineering into their classroom, school, or district in age-appropriate, inclusive, and engaging ways. Building on the work of a team that has spent 15 years developing elementary engineering curricula, this book outlines how engineering can be integrated into a broader STEM curriculum, details its pedagogical benefits to students, and includes classroom examples to help educators tailor instruction to engage diverse students. Including vignettes, case studies, videos, research results, and assessments, this resource will help readers visualize high-quality elementary engineering and understand the theoretical principles in context.

With an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) training, Teacher Learning in the Digital Age examines exemplary models of online and blended teacher professional development, including information on the structure and design of each model, intended audience, and existing research and evaluation data. From video-based courses to just-in-time curriculum support platforms and MOOCs for educators, the cutting-edge initiatives described in these chapters illustrate the broad range of innovative programs that have emerged to support preservice and in-service teachers in formal and informal settings. "As teacher development moves online," the editors argue, "it's important to ask what works and what doesn't and for whom," They address these questions by gathering the feedback of many of the top researchers, developers, and providers working in the field today. Filled with abundant resources, Teacher Learning in the Digital Age reveals critical lessons and insights for designers, researchers, and educators in search of the most efficient and effective ways to leverage technology to support formal, as well as informal, teacher learning.

Bolstered by new standards and new initiatives to promote STEM education, engineering is making its way into the school curriculum. This comprehensive introduction will help elementary educators integrate engineering into their classroom, school, or district in age-appropriate, inclusive, and engaging ways. Building on the work of a team that has spent 15 years developing elementary engineering curricula, this book outlines how engineering can be integrated into a broader STEM curriculum, details its pedagogical benefits to students, and includes classroom examples to help educators tailor instruction to engage diverse students. Including vignettes, case studies, videos, research results, and assessments, this resource will help readers visualize high-quality elementary engineering and understand the theoretical principles in context.