STEM Science Technology Engineering Math Research at Colorado School of Mines Dr. Barbara M. Moskal Director - Trefny Institute for Educational Innovation Vision Through the Trefny Institute for Educational Innovation, Mines is a catalyst for STEM educational research and improvement at all levels, K through gray. “Catch them young. Catch them now. Catch them all.” Dr. Barbara Moskal – Director Trefny Institute STEM Outreach in Action Outline • • • • Teacher workshops Follow-up classroom support Dyslexic camp Tech camps Summer Workshop 2013 • • • • Elementary and middle school Two weeks, eight hours per day Focus: Earth, Energy & Environment Research Groups: Bechtel, REMERSEC, ReNUWIt • Departments: Chemistry and Geochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Physics, Chemical Engineering Participants • • • • • 5 Elementary DPS Teachers 1 DPS Middle School Teacher 7 Elementary Englewood Teachers 2 Englewood Middle School Teachers 8 Adams 50 Elementary and Middle School Teachers • Funding: Bechtel, REMRSEC, ReNUWit Academic Year Follow-up: 15 hours per week of graduate student support throughout academic year 7 Example Lesson • Cloud in a bottle demonstration • Water vapors • Condensation • Cloud formation • Water cycle coloring sheets (take-home) • Edible aquifers (active) 8 K-8 Evaluation • Teachers and fellows positively evaluated program. • Teacher average performance from pre to post assessment on a 20 point test raised from 10 to 16 correct. This was found to be statistically significant using a paired t-test (α<.01). • Student Attitudes with respect to science in participating teachers classrooms was, on average, statistically higher than control classrooms using a t-test (α<.01). 9 Dyslexic Camp • 27 dyslexic students • Two weeks, one hour per day • Funding: American Physics Society 10 Tech Camps • • • • 36 middle school students 2 one-week camps in 2013 Six hours per day Focus: Earth, Energy & Environment • Funding: Self-supported, donations, Dr. Mike Wakin, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Assessment • Pre-Post Assessment, Statistically significant increase • Drawing of scientists, pre and post STEM “On The Road” Outreach Our funded graduate students have also created live demonstrations that are presented at education fairs and conferences around the country to demonstrate our innovative ideas and activities. 13 Trefny Institute on YouTube Funded graduate students have created some really cool videos designed to teach science concepts in an easily accessible manner. Check them out on YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/user/TrefnyInstitute Impact Dr. Barbara Moskal – Director Trefny Institute for Educational Innovation • • • Research Interests Measurement and evaluation Student assessment Statistics applied to education Mathematics education Women in science and mathematics STEM outreach Bottle Launcher – Teacher Workshops Modeling Software – Tech Camp Distinguished Service Director of the Trefny Institute for Educational Innovation Director, Center for Assessment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Senior Editor, Journal of Engineering Education Publications Forssén, A., Lauriski-Karriker, T., Harriger, A. & Moskal, B. (2011). “SPIRIT: Encouraging High School Girls’ Interests in Information Technology.” Journal of STEM Education, 12 (5 &6), 46-57. Moskal, B. & Skokan, C. (2011). Supporting the K-12 Classroom through University Outreach, Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 15 (1), 53-75. Munson, A., Moskal, B. Harriger, A., Lauriski-Karriker, T., & Heersink, D. (2011). “Computing at the High School Level: Changing What Teachers and Students Know and Believe,” Computers and Education: An International Journal, 57 (2), 1836-1849. Dr. Catherine Skokan – Associate Research Professor • • • Research Interests Curriculum development Measurement and evaluation Engineering education Science (earth and physical) education Humanitarian engineering STEM outreach Humanitarian work with Students in Honduras Energy Lessons for Teachers Distinguished Service PIC II Chair and Board Member – American Society for Engineering Education President-Elect -- Engineering and Environmental Geophysics Society Semester-at-Sea Engineering Committee member Publications Skokan, C. K., Crocker, J., and Baughman, G. (2009)Introduction of Energy Courses into Native American Tribal Colleges: Chapter 30, Innovations in Engineering Education and Research, INEER. Moskal, B. & Skokan, C. (2011). Supporting the K-12 Classroom through University Outreach, Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 15 (1), 53-75. Skokan, C. K. (2011) An Integrated Groundwater Study at Chasnigua, Villanueva, Honduras: A Geoscientists Without Borders Project, GSA Annual Meeting, Oct. 2011, Minneapolis, MN. Trefny Institute for Educational Innovation Colorado School of Mines Green Center #232 924 16th Street, Golden, CO 80401 303-384-2401 http://trefny.mines.edu/