Award Abstract # 2148014
CAREER - Transforming Science Teaching and Learning through Empowering Teachers and Students as Climate Justice Action Researchers and Change Agents

NSF Org: DRL
Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
Recipient: SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Initial Amendment Date: March 8, 2022
Latest Amendment Date: March 13, 2025
Award Number: 2148014
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Toya frank
tfrank@nsf.gov
 (703)292-2255
DRL
 Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
EDU
 Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date: March 15, 2022
End Date: February 28, 2027 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $786,285.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $610,031.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2022 = $222,957.00
FY 2024 = $178,787.00

FY 2025 = $208,287.00
History of Investigator:
  • Tammie Visintainer (Principal Investigator)
    tammie.visintainer@sjsu.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: San Jose State University Foundation
210 N 4TH ST FL 4
SAN JOSE
CA  US  95112-5569
(408)924-1400
Sponsor Congressional District: 18
Primary Place of Performance: San Jose State University Research Foundation
210 North Fourth Street
San Jose
CA  US  95112-5569
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
18
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): LJBXV5VF2BT9
Parent UEI: LJBXV5VF2BT9
NSF Program(s): Discovery Research K-12
Primary Program Source: 04002425DB NSF STEM Education
04002526DB NSF STEM Education

04002627DB NSF STEM Education

040V2122DB EHR ARP Act DEFC V
Program Reference Code(s): 1187, 112Z, 1045, 111Z
Program Element Code(s): 764500
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.076

ABSTRACT

This project supports school-based science teachers and students in conducting community-based science research on the causes and effects of extreme heat/urban islands in racially and ethnically diverse communities. Doing research of this nature in schools is important, as students? opportunities to engage in community-based science research usually occur in out-of-school contexts. Teachers will participate in professional learning experiences that support their development of content knowledge, scientific research practices, and critical pedagogies needed to design and implement research projects in their classroom. Students will identify locally-relevant issues related to this phenomenon, conduct investigations to explore the issue, share their findings through arts-based community narratives, and advocate for change. This project will broaden access to empowering youth-centered approaches that support learning and identity construction in science. Educational activities culminating from this research include the development a graduate-level course focused on climate justice action research as well as curricular materials for K-12 classroom use by teachers and students. This CAREER award is funded by the Discovery Research preK-12 program (DRK-12) which 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 project is also supported by the Racial Equity in STEM Education program (EHR Racial Equity). The program supports projects that advance racial equity in STEM education and workforce development through research and practice.

Qualitative and quantitative measures will be employed to study how 40 teachers across 4 cohorts develop their capacity to lead students in studying urban heat islands, an issue germane to their community. The research will explore how student participation in this action research shapes learning and identity construction in science. This project presents a novel approach to school-based science teaching and learning by empowering teachers and students as climate action researchers and change agents. The research will aid in the development of a hub for justice-centered science education and will also yield school-based materials and professional development activities that examine the interwoven nature of climate justice and racial justice. Further, project findings will support a transformative science teacher education model that empowers teachers as designers, equity advocates, and leaders in community-engaged science research.



This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

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