The Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

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The Florida Center for Research in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
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• Joseph Travis
• FCR-STEM Principal Investigator
• Dean, FSU College of Arts Sciences
• Sir Harold Kroto
• FCR-STEM Center Director
• Nobel Laureate
• Frances Eppes Professor of Chemistry and
  Biochemistry

• Welcome

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• FCR-STEM Mission
• and
• International Advisory Board Roles
• Joseph Travis
• FCR-STEM Principal Investigator
• Dean, FSU College of Arts Sciences

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FCR-STEM Mission

• To help the State of Florida
• improve STEM teaching and learning
• prepare students for higher education and STEM
  careers in the 21st Century.

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Targeted Outcomes

• Improve student achievement in STEM
• Narrow student achievement gaps in STEM
• Increase student pursuit of STEM careers
  

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How?

• By improving K-12
• classroom practice

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FCR-STEM Activities

• 1. Research on policy and practice related to
• Math and science instruction and assessment
  in the state.
• Student acquisition of knowledge and skills
  in math and science.

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FCR-STEM Activities

• 2. Technical Assistance
• to school districts and schools
• in the development and implementation of math and
  science instruction.

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FCR-STEM Activities

• 3. Dissemination of research-based teaching
  practices
• (e.g., connecting teachers with
  research-based materials and resources)

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Advisory Board Role

• Oversight and recommendations for the Centers
  activities

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Stakeholder Perspectives

• Researchers
• Teacher educators
• Practitioners
• Business leaders
• STEM program providers
• Parents

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Questions about activities

• Expect substantial impact on targeted outcomes?
• Perceived as useful by stakeholders?
• Best use of limited resources?

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• Goals for the 2008 Meeting
• Marcy Driscoll
• FCR-STEM Co-Principal Investigator
• Dean, FSU College of Education

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2008 IAB Meeting

• Planned based on
• June 2007 Board meeting
• Formative Evaluation by Horizon Research, Inc.

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June 2007 Meeting

• Many good ideas
• for research and technical assistance/disseminatio
  n projects

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Suggestions Adopted to Date

• Secondary analyses to provide useful results in
  the short-term
• Approaching Florida business leaders to develop a
  marketing plan to increase student engagement in
  STEM

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2007 June Meeting

• More ideas
• than we can pursue
• with the centers resources

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Horizon Research, Inc.

• External Evaluator
• New role in 2008 Critical Friends
• Iris Weiss, President
• Joan Pasley, Senior Research Associate

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Horizon Research, Inc.

• Recommendation
• Develop criteria for future project
  selection.and obtain IAB feedback

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Online Survey Results

• More dialogue
• with FCR-STEM faculty

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Goal 1 for 2008 meeting

• IAB Advice on current projects
• (in varying stages of implementation)
• Important from your stakeholder perspective?
• Possible solutions to challenges faced?

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Goal 2 for 2008 Meeting

• Input on criteria for future projects
• How should we choose
• among the many possibilities?

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Agenda Overview

• Current Direction The Florida Context and
  FCR-STEM framework and initiatives
• Small group sessions on current research and
  TA/dissemination projects
• Small group sessions on criteria for future
  projects

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Meeting Guidelines

• Choose among concurrent sessions
• Feel free to ask questions and offer ideas
• Allow everyone the opportunity to participate in
  the discussion

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Your View

• The one most important thing that FCR-STEM
  should do in the next 3 years
• Laura Lang
• FCR-STEM Co-Principal Investigator and Director,
  Learning Systems Institute