Advancing Methods and Synthesizing Research in STEM Education

严格的研究和开发方法对于开发和测试STEM教育中的新方法至关重要。该项目将解决两个关键机会，以改善联邦资助的STEM教育项目中创新和证据的转化和联系。首先，该项目将旨在为STEM教育研究和开发建设能力和学习机会。其次，该项目将综合NSF资助的工作中发现和创新的证据。探索研究PREK-12计划(DRK-12)旨在通过研究和开发创新资源、模型和工具，显著提高Pre-K-12学生和教师在科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)方面的学习和教学。DRK-12计划中的项目建立在STEM教育的基础研究和先前的研究和开发努力的基础上，这些研究和开发工作为拟议的项目提供了理论和经验证明。本项目将进行四个研究综述。最终的主题将确定，但可能包括早期数学教育，早期的科学学习，以及小学年级的工程。作为这项工作的一部分，该小组将为每个专题综合编写一份简短的报告，旨在突出和提升一系列项目中的证据和贡献，以图形和文本相结合的非技术性格式。内容将包括专题的理由及其在STEM教育中的重要性；该领域的投资和抽样项目的概要；跨项目贡献的概要，以及项目的说明性要点或例子；对证据质量的评论；以及对投资的贡献和潜在的更广泛影响的讨论。该项目还将规划和举办一系列以方法为重点的网络研讨会，其中可能包括以下主题：严格的准实验设计；衡量实施保真度和适应性；应用改进的科学方法；分组随机对照试验；基于设计的研究；或制定和测试有效措施。来自网络研讨会的材料将被采购并公开提供给教育研究社区。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Rigorous research and development methods are essential for developing and testing new approaches in STEM education. This project will address two critical opportunities to improve the translation and connection of innovations and evidence across federally funded STEM education projects. First, the project will aim to build capacity and learning opportunities for STEM education research and development. Second, the project will synthesize evidence of discovery and innovation across NSF-funded work. The Discovery Research preK-12 program (DRK-12) 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 will conduct four research syntheses. Final topics will be determined but may include early math education, early learning in science, and engineering in the elementary grades. As part of this work, the team will produce a brief report for each topical synthesis, designed to highlight and elevate evidence and contributions across a set of projects, in a nontechnical format that combines graphics with text. Content will include a rationale for the topic and its importance in STEM education; synopsis of the investments in this area and the projects sampled; synopsis of the cross-project contributions, with illustrative highlights or examples from projects; commentary on the quality of evidence; and discussion of the contributions and potential broader impacts of the investments. The project will also plan and conduct a series of methods-focused webinars which may include topics such as rigorous quasi-experimental designs; measuring implementation fidelity and adaptation; applying improvement science methods; cluster randomized controlled trials; design-based research; or developing and testing valid measures. The materials from the webinars will be procured and made publicly available for the education research community.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.