Aggie STEM is part of a new Department of Education funded grant Project LISTO. This exciting new project broadens access to science learning and improves science literacy for EC and ELL students through an enhanced science curriculum. The project will involve 560 teachers and 11,200 EC and ELL students. LISTO will involve four cohorts of grade 5 students, one (Cohort 1) of which will be followed and monitored through grade 8 for long-term retention and impact. LISTO will incorporate the following: (a) new schools with two levels (teacher and students); (b) follow-up teacher professional development and student monitoring through grade 8 for Cohort 1; (c) standards-aligned science curriculum, which includes virtual notebooks for Written and Academic oral language Vocabulary development in English in Science (WAVES), Technology Integration for English Language and Literacy Acquisition in Science (TIELAS), and the 5E model used daily; (d) a virtual teacher mentoring/coaching model; (e) virtual teacher professional development; (f) virtual observations in the classroom with a platform for observing; (g) Family Involvement in Science (FIS) with virtual engagement and observation methods; and (h) Scientists as Role Models and Mentors (SRM2), which connects university students as mentors to grade-level students. Treatment teachers will receive virtual professional development and instructional coaching, which will be gradually reduced over course of the project to test sustainability. The objectives include (a) examining the impact of the virtual teacher professional development and coaching/mentoring; (b) determining the academic sustainability of the literacy-infused science curriculum for fifth grade students; and (c) providing scaled outcomes and outreach with dissemination and sustainability of the project. Expected outcomes include increased student achievement in science, improved student English language and literacy skills, and enhanced teacher science content and pedagogical knowledge and skills.
Aggie STEM’s research encompasses a broad range topics and issues in K-12 STEM education, from those directly connected to students and teachers as well as those related to school administration and curriculum. Research performed encompasses STEM education in both formal and informal contexts, and looks at fundamental issues as well as how to transfer the knowledge gained through research to improve the practice of STEM education. Informal STEM education is currently being investigated through examining STEM focused summer camps for middle and high school students. Aggie STEM emphasizes interest and competencies in STEM areas by involving campers in a learner-centered environment that enables them to actively engage, think, and solve real world oriented problems.
Aggie STEM has developed an online and face-to-face teacher professional development series to elevate teachers’ content and pedagogical knowledge about innovative instructional strategies supporting active teaching and learning (i.e., STEM Project-based Learning ) in STEM areas. Professors and graduate students from the mathematics, science, and engineering departments in Aggie STEM collaboratively conduct experimental research focused on best practices of active STEM teaching and learning. Aggie STEM also observes in schools, writes evaluation reports, and trains administrators, principals, and teachers in effective leadership for supporting active learning practices.