Though our STEM+C project, “Integrating Computing into Science Teaching and Learning in Grades 6-8: A Diverse Partnership to Develop an Evidence-Guided Model to Serve Rural Communities,” was an exploratory grant, we found that integration approaches developed and implemented throughout our project proved to be successful in terms of both teacher and student impacts. Through a collaborative partnership approach that teamed university researchers, graduate students, and teachers together to tackle finding ways to expose all 6-8 science students to important computer science (CS) concepts and skills, we found that there were high levels of enthusiasm and engagement with the lesson modules developed. Preliminary analysis of interview and survey data show the importance of the community of practice amongst partnering teachers and researchers, as well as promising positive learning gains in science content, strengthened by integration efforts; this is especially encouraging as the COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented disruptions to classroom teaching right in the middle of our project work. 

Through a project framework that provided critical human and physical resources, teachers from all levels of CS comfort and expertise were able to feel successful in bringing CS teaching and learning to their classrooms. Over the five years of the project, 30 teachers gained experience in developing, implementing, and refining CS-integrated science lessons into their classrooms. Six additional teachers participated in small-group professional learning sessions during the spring of 2022 to pilot the lessons in their classrooms, and in the summer of 2023, 34 additional K-12 mathematics and science teachers were introduced to the lessons, prepared for  their implementation, and supported in developing a proposal detailing how they may further integrate CS into their subject areas. xIn addition, several teachers from the project have assumed leadership roles in developing and implementing this and other professional learning sessions, and will be continuing to co-develop and co-lead future sessions beyond the current grant cycle. To date, we estimate that over 5,000 Maine students have been impacted by project efforts; notably, many of these students represent classrooms and schools where they may not have otherwise had opportunities for CS learning. In conjunction with future professional learning offered, the lessons developed through this work will be available on the Maine STEM Partnership website for public use, expanding the impact of this work even further in the future. 

Last Modified: 12/27/2023
Modified by: Susan R Mckay