kidsgeologyfeb09_010STEM Research and Partnerships (STEM-RP), previously organized as the Institute for Excellence in Math & Science Education (IEMSE) is the organizational entity for the coordination of all STEM education research and outreach projects in partnership with the College of Education.  Our offices are located primarily on the ground floor of  O’Donnell hall.

The STEM Outreach Center,  in Room 136 O’Donnell Hall, houses most of our  K-12 Science grants and projects under the direction of Dr. Susan Brown. Dr. Brown also directs the NASA Aerospace Education Lab (AEL), located in the College of Engineering’s Foreman Building. The AEL is a partnership with NASA, and the Colleges of Education and Engineering.

The STEM Research Center, in Room 021 O’Donnell Hall, is the home of our research and evaluation staff for the STEM Research & Partnerships and the Alliance for Teaching and Learning.

The STEM & Learning Design Lab,  in Room 046 O’Donnell Hall, is the new location for our Mathematically Connected Communities (MC2) and other mathematics grants. CORE-RDA (Collaborating for Outstanding Readiness in Education) is located in O’Donnell 027.

 

Networking and Partnerships for the STEM Center
Our networking and partnership opportunities are grant-funded and come in the form of workshops, conferences, focus groups, summer institutes, and excursions. We do this to encourage partnerships between local STEM teachers and area resources, to challenge teachers to incorporate new and innovative ideas into their curricula, and to encourage them to develop and maintain a network of both veteran and new teachers to draw upon when exploring STEM-related topics.

To date, STEM professional development partners have included but are not limited to: New Mexico State University’s College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences (Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Astronomy, Computer Science, Geography, Geological Sciences and Mathematical Sciences), College of Agriculture (4H, Agriculture Extension, Animal and Range Science, Fishery and Wildlife Sciences, Food Science and Nutrition, Learning Games Lab), the College of Engineering;  Alliance for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Environmental Education Association of NM; Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park; NM Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR); NM Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (NM MESA); Project GUTS (Growing up Thinking Scientifically); Santa Fe Institute; Science Educators Alliance (SEA); Southern New Mexico Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA); Supercomputing Challenge; U.S Forest Service; Western New Mexico University; Young Women in Computing (College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Computer Science); Alamogordo Public Schools District; Albuquerque Public Schools; Cobre Consolidated Schools; Deming Public Schools; Gadsden Independent School District; Hatch Public Schools; Las Cruces Public Schools; Lordsburg Municipal Schools; Mescalero Apache Schools; Silver City Consolidated Schools; and Truth or Consequences Schools.

ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES FOR ALL PROGRAMS:

  • Participants will be engaged in an enriched academic setting that promotes learning. This will build their confidence and be reflected in their attitude toward school and performance.
  • Students becoming engaged in reading, science, technology, mathematics, and engineering.
  • Students will be actively engaged in reading and develop a positive attitude toward reading.
  • Students will be provided opportunities to work with scientific equipment and technology that allows them to apply the math, science, and engineering concepts that they are learning.
  • Students will take more math and science in middle school and high school.
  • The standardized test scores will rise for the participants.
  • More students will eventually explore college majors in science, math, and engineering.
  • Families becoming more involved in their children’s education through the monthly meetings and the Family Festivals; consequently, more students will thrive in the school setting because of this involvement.

All of the STEM Outreach Programs have the following learning module components in common:

  • age appropriateness
  • an active-learning, inquiry-based approach to curriculum
  • include the complete curriculum
  • contain all resources needed to implement the curriculum, packaged lesson-by-lesson and grade-by-grade
  • include professional development sessions for all designated instructors
  • promote STEM studies and STEM career options