Project Spotlight: Curriculum and Community Enterprise for New York Harbor Restoration in New York City Public Schools
BlogSTELAR recently caught up with Dr. Lauren Birney, Assistant Professor of STEM Education at PACE University's School of Education, and Director of The STEM Collaboratory NYC™. Dr. Birney serves as the Principal Investigator for the ITEST and ICER funded project Curriculum and Community Enterprise for the New York Harbor Restoration in New York City Public Schools (CCERS). This project works with NYC middle school students to study New York Harbor
Smart & Connected Communities
HighlightEmerging strategic partnerships among K-12 education, government, community-based organizations, higher education, and business/industry are addressing the interactions and interdependence of systems in different domains (e.g., energy, transportation, environment, public health, education) and how stakeholders can work together to tackle the next level of challenges. Smart and Connected Communities focus on improving personal quality of life
Does playing Minecraft promote interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math?
NewsThe ITEST Research Study, Creating a Virtual Infrastructure for Engaging Rural Youth in STEM Disciplines through Computer Science, was recently featured on Maine Public Broadcasting Network's interactive radio program Maine Calling. This project will use LearnToMod for Minecraft to engage middle school students in rural Maine with computer science and math concepts. In the recorded interview, Principal Investigator Bruce Segee, Project Manager
Computer Science Education 2. 0
HighlightAcross the U.S., there is increasing awareness of the importance of computer science skills and knowledge and the need to make computer programming part of educational curriculum nationwide. Since 2003, the ITEST program has been funding programs and research aimed to expose youth from populations underrepresented in STEM to computer science, engineering and programming, to the computational thinking and habits of mind needed in a global knowledge economy.
October 2015 Newsletter
NewsletterITEST PI Mike Barnett's Urban Hydrofarmer's Project featured in NSF's Science Nation
NewsThe National Science Foundation's online magazine, Science Nation, recently featured an article and video of ITEST PI's Mike Barnett's Urban Hydrofarmer's Project. The project instructs students in the construction of solar-powered hydroponic systems, guides them through them hydroponic farming techniques, and allows them to reap the benefits by selling the organic produce at local farmer's markets. Exposing students to real-world applications
Informal Science
HighlightOne of the keys to having youth pursue STEM careers is developing their personal interest in science and technology. Often, hands-on activities in out-of-school contexts provide diverse youth with low-pressure, non-academic environments in which they can explore their interests more freely than they may be able to in a school setting.
Project Spotlight: GreenTECH
BlogSTELAR recently connected with Sarah Pidgeon (Solar One) about the GreenTECH project, which is a three-year project focusing on green technology and careers at the high school level. Partners are: Solar One, a Green Energy Arts and Education Center; MOUSE (Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools & Education), a youth development program that prepares young people to serve as technology experts; the Wallerstein Collaborative for Urban Environmental Education at New York University, and the New York City Department of Education (DOE). The GreenTECH program combines the successful methodology of the Solar One Green Design Lab program with the highly effective approach of MOUSE Technical Squads.
Dr. Kimberly A. Scott appointed to lead the National STEM Collaborative
NewsSTELAR would like to congratulate Dr. Kimberly A. Scott, Principal Investigator for the CompuGirls ITEST project, on her appointment by President Obama to lead the National STEM Collaborative.