| NSF Org: |
DRL Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 16, 2016 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | May 25, 2017 |
| Award Number: | 1650648 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Margret Hjalmarson
mhjalmar@nsf.gov (703)292-5186 DRL Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL) EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | September 15, 2016 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2017 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $398,613.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $477,443.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2017 = $78,830.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
300 5TH AVE STE 2010 WALTHAM MA US 02451-8778 (617)618-2227 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
43 Foundry Avenue Waltham MA US 02453-8313 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Discovery Research K-12 |
| Primary Program Source: |
04001718DB NSF Education & Human Resource |
| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
The Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of innovative resources, models, and tools. Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects. This award will extend and enhance the resource center (titled the Community for Advancing Discovery Research in Education, or CADRE) for the DRK-12 program. The project builds on the unique experience and expertise of investigators at Educational Development Center (EDC) that evolved over eight years in the development and implementation of CADRE. The multi-faceted approach of CADRE 2017 strengthens the network's virtual presence in order to (a) generate and disseminate knowledge and products that support research, policy, and practice around key issues in STEM education; (b) foster interaction and collaboration across projects to maximize the individual and collective potential of DRK-12 awards; (c) offer targeted professional development activities and resources that support early career researchers and developers; and (d) provide focused outreach and dissemination efforts to the DRK-12 community, other networks, and broader stakeholder audiences. The evaluation supports continuous improvement of the network's design and seeks to identify components that have promise for adaptation in future endeavors and by other networks.
Through a variety of online curated resources and interactive events, the project will advance topics of relevance and importance to the DRK-12 community, the National Science Foundation, and society; support interaction and collaboration among DRK-12 awardees; and facilitate DRK-12 awardee engagement with policy and practice communities. Informed by their expressed interests and needs, this award expands upon previous work to support the professional growth of early career researchers and developers, with a focus on broadening participation of individuals underrepresented in STEM. The network will support knowledge generation, synthesis, and dissemination with a lens on DRK-12 resources, materials, and tools within and external to the research and development community. The network will also contribute to the knowledge base on the design and implementation of networks intending to support knowledge management and collaboration. The DRK-12 portfolio includes an estimated 750 projects that are driven by the field yet respond to parameters established by the National Science Foundation. Understanding the scope of the portfolio, in relation to trends in research, policy, and practice, is important because collectively, the awards produce resources, models, and technologies that can influence the field. Convening the awardees through multiple virtual venues, and promoting collaboration and interaction among the projects, maximizes the collective potential of the projects. Supporting the development of early career researchers and developers, the project's impact extends into the building of the next generation of scholars. With an emphasis on communication and dissemination of the DRK-12 project findings and products in STEM research and development, the network will contribute to a more evidence-based understanding of STEM education.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The Community for Discovery Research in Education (CADRE), led by Education Development Center (EDC), is a resource network for STEM education researchers funded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Discovery Research PreK–12 (DRK–12) program. This program seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and computer science by preK–12 students and teachers through research and development of STEM education innovations and approaches. CADRE has been serving the DRK–12 program and its awardees since 2008.
During this project period (September 15, 2016–December 31, 2017), CADRE addressed the need for collaboration among researchers, and synthesis and communication of their research to ensure that their products and research findings (e.g., teacher professional development models, curriculum modules and apps, assessment instruments and items) make their way into classrooms to improve learning and transform education. CADRE addressed this need by promoting conversations among researchers, gathering and helping to synthesize the research findings of DRK–12 projects, and highlighting and distributing their research products. CADRE also helped early career and experienced researchers to improve their capacity to advance research (e.g., responding to funding opportunities, managing their projects, writing award reports, sharing their research).
Select outcomes:
CADRE advanced research by creating opportunities for researchers (1) to share, synthesize, and identify gaps in knowledge across projects; and (2) to learn about their colleagues’ research approaches, methods, and findings. For example, CADRE convened a group to explore recent findings about the advantages, limitations, and effective design of online and blended (i.e., hybrid of online and in-person) professional development for teachers, write a brief, and submit a related conference proposal.
CADRE shared promising DRK–12 project approaches to and research-based resources for STEM education improvements with a broad group of education stakeholders (e.g., teachers, administrators, industry representatives, and policymakers) through (1) the cadrek12.org and successfulstemeducation.org websites, (2) CADRE and STEM Smart newsletters, (3) social media, and (4) conference presentations and webinars, on topics such as data education and modeling across the STEM disciplines in preK–12 classrooms.
CADRE increased early career researchers’ capacity to advance their careers by leading the CADRE Fellows program, creating the CADRE Early Career Guide, and developing resources—such as a dissemination toolkit—in response to the needs of DRK–12 awardees’ of NSF’s Faculty Early Career Development Program. The CADRE Fellows workforce development program provided opportunities for 10 doctoral students from diverse backgrounds to gain exposure to NSF, network with other researchers, gain knowledge and skills to help advance their careers as STEM education researchers and developers (e.g., writing for publication), and learn about different work contexts and career tracks. In addition, evaluators report, “the Fellows program is establishing a sustainable network of alumni and … Fellows expect to build on their relationships with one another.”
CADRE provided webinars, newsletters, and resources about NSF funding opportunities, proposal writing, project management, and research dissemination to increase participation in and potential influence and use of research by current and potential DRK–12 awardees—including those at minority-serving and EPSCoR state institutions. (EPSCoR, which stands for “Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research,” supports research in regions of the country that have been less successful competing for research funds.)
CADRE met with other NSF resource networks and similar entities and shared information about the approaches employed that were proving effective in supporting collaboration, promoting the synthesis and use of knowledge, and contributing to workforce development at higher levels in STEM education (i.e., graduate students and beyond).
Last Modified: 04/18/2018
Modified by: Catherine H Mcculloch
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