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ERIC Number: ED630957
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Oct
Pages: 75
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Mathematics, 3D Printing, and Computational Thinking through Work-Based Learning (MPACT): An Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Grant Evaluation. Technical Report
Gagnon, Douglas; Joshi, Ela; Arshan, Nicole; Rulifson, Eliese; Levin-Güracar, Elise; Tiruke, Tejaswini
Grantee Submission
The Mathematics, 3D Printing, and Computational Thinking Through Work-Based Learning (MPACT) program relies on teacher professional development, specialized curriculum and materials, and STEM industry mentors to provide grades 4-7 students with project-based experiences implemented across three learning modules. This technical report presents findings from a program evaluation of MPACT as implemented in the 2021-22 school year by MPACT Fellows--i.e., teachers who participated in the MPACT program--in four U.S. states. MPACT Fellows implemented MPACT in a year marked by ongoing difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although MPACT professional development was delivered with fidelity, only 65 percent of MPACT Fellows implemented the full program with all of their classes. MPACT Fellows also provided fewer opportunities for students to meet with or learn about STEM industry mentors than intended. Despite this partial implementation, MPACT Fellows' perceptions of and efficacy in programmatic concepts increased meaningfully after participating in MPACT. Furthermore, grades 4 and 5 MPACT students grew nearly a full standard deviation on a measure of geometry, computational thinking, and spatial reasoning over one school year. However, significant differences were not observed in students' socioemotional outcomes--specifically, behavioral engagement in math, behavioral disaffection in math, math self-efficacy, and math self-concept--between MPACT students and comparison students. The considerable growth of MPACT students on the assessment and the documented program impacts on teachers' perceptions therefore provide limited, suggestive evidence that the program could demonstrate improved student outcomes in ideal conditions if examined over a longer time frame or using different impact measures.
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Numerical/Quantitative Data
Education Level: Elementary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) (ED)
Authoring Institution: SRI Education
Grant or Contract Numbers: U411C180070