Through funding from the National Science Foundation to create a Research Experience for Teachers site at North Dakota State University, the authors provided summer research experiences to current secondary (6th to 12th grade) educators to improve their understanding of the civil engineering field and develop new curriculum modules for their…

Community-based Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a promising practice to improve secondary STEM education. In these projects, students design and conduct authentic investigations with community stakeholders and technical experts. The work culminates with a public display of authentic artifacts like evidence-based advocacy reports or engineering…

This research presents results of a longitudinal study of a three-year in-service teacher professional development program that was focused on improving grades sixth through eighth students' science achievement, science literacy and increasing science interest in five urban middle schools. The key program elements included: (1) a summer teacher…

Background: The goal of the study was to develop and verify a pathway model (or theory of change) for STEM Scouts, an out-of-school time (OST), positive youth development program for elementary through high school-aged youth. Pathway models include connections between hypothesized activities to short-, mid-, and long-term outcomes. STEM Scouts is…

This study analyzes Deeper Learning (DL) opportunities and the correlation between multiple DL measures on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career orientation in out-of-school time (OST) STEM programming. Additionally, this study examines the presence and validity of the American Institutes for Research (AIR) DL measures in OST…

This study employed four waves of Institute of Education Sciences nationally representative data to investigate changes in K-12 technology and engineering education teachers in terms of demographics, qualifications, and service loads over time through the 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 Schools and Staffing Surveys and the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 National…

Three-dimensional modeling and additive manufacturing technologies (i.e. 3D printing) have and will continue to revolutionize biomedical engineering. However, 3D printing within biomedical engineering contexts remains an area of limited focus within secondary education. Many secondary educators are not well prepared to teach about biomedical 3D…

This study explores teachers' conceptions of STEM education at the beginning of an online graduate course for practicing PK-12 teachers (n=20). A grounded theory approach was used to analyze open-ended survey data and concept maps. Teachers in the study interpreted STEM teaching from either a disciplinary or an integrated perspective. Their…

The present study focuses on the results of a four-year study that examined a Harmony Public School (HPS) high school students' STEM major selection patterns. We utilize 626 12th grade students who were common participants in each year of the 4-year study. We used quantitative method for the question 1 and 2 and a mainly qualitative focus for the…

Within this decade, programs to improve STEM education are too numerous to count with efforts at the federal, state, and local levels. From targeted teacher professional development to totally reinventing teacher preparation programs, these efforts have helped to identify, develop, and deliver integrated STEM education programs; however, the…

The global pandemic (COVID-19) has devastated tens of millions of people suffering from separation anxiety among family members, economic crisis, health issues in sensitive groups, and even education landscapes. In response to COVID-19, a hands-on, virtual STEM camp is proposed to stimulate American youth for the future workforce. The project aims…

Pipeline programs in health and biomedical sciences have gained attention as students who engage in these programs are more likely to enter into associated fields. In 2012, to support the mission of Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine, the Future Physicians Summer Enrichment Program (FPSEP) was launched for regional high…

This study investigates the impacts of a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program on rural STEM educators and reports teachers' perspectives on how these experiences influence classroom practices. The program of focus occurred at a mid-sized university in the upper Midwest from 2016-2019. Over this period, eleven rural secondary STEM…

The purpose of this paper was to demonstrate University and High School collaboration through a Service Learning exercise. Pedagogical collaboration between the local Prescott High School and senior level mechanical engineering students from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Arizona had great benefits to both schools and the students.…

The Idaho Drone League (iDrone) was launched to inspire the next generation's workforce through engagement with STEM research and education. Idaho youth (middle/high school students) participated in four twoday drone workshops in locations across Idaho. Although drone applications are prevalent in many civil operations, including emergency…