ITEST Resources

The study of Atlantic puffins among Maine middle-school science students provides a fascinating subject for integrating ecology, ornithology, and data practices. Atlantic puffins have made a remarkable comeback in Maine over the last 50 years under the leadership of ornithologist Stephen Kress and the National Audubon Society's Seabird Institute (Kress & Jackson, 2020). Studying the extent to which this seabird population has changed, and the reasons for these changes, is the focus of the Puffins curriculum project (Tumblehome, n.d.; NSF DRL-2241777). The curriculum combines a place-based

The purpose of the 2024 Institute for Neurodivergent Students in Science and Technology (2024 INSIST) was to gather a diverse array of postsecondary neurodivergent STEM students from across the United States and its territories to work on two objectives: To elevate the voices of neurodivergent students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), providing space for students to share how postsecondary faculty, staff, and administrators can help provide effective and equitable learning environments. To improve student knowledge and skills for self-advocacy, tapping into their

Co-design in action in the ITEST program This research brief from the STELAR Center at EDC highlights how NSF ITEST projects are utilizing co-design approaches in their research and development. In education, co-design is a highly facilitated, team-based process that actively involves diverse stakeholders in designing, prototyping, and evaluating educational innovations to address specific needs or goals (Penuel et al., 2007; Roschelle et al., 2006). To prepare this brief, we identified a set of conference papers and articles related to nine active or recently completed ITEST projects that

Translating career development research into practice has long been a challenge for both the education and workforce development communities. It is exceedingly difficult for educators and training professionals to develop and implement programs that keep pace with the rapid advances in technology. Preparing a highly skilled and resilient workforce requires a collective focus on ensuring that the largest number of students possible develop the interests, skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed to flourish in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The ITEST program has been supporting

The attached ITEST Snapshot document provides an overview of the National Science Foundation's ITEST Program. The data for this report was derived from NSF's Award Search database, and project survey data collected by STELAR (the New Project Survey and Annual ITEST Survey).

This work-in-progress paper reports preliminary findings from surveys, participant observation, and co-design discussions with educators and elders of a Native American community about how to modify STEM learning activities for their unique tribal culture in afterschool settings using immersive technology and spatial design.