Bridging the Gap: Uniting North Carolina K–16 STEM Education
The conference will unite the North Carolina K–16 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education communities by bringing together the education, industry and state government organizations that have a stake in strengthening bioscience education in North Carolina.
Objectives
- To foster collaboration and increase communication between North Carolina's K–16 STEM educational communities.
- To increase awareness within the K–12 educational community of the many educational resources developed by the science and educational research faculty at North Carolina universities.
- To increase awareness within the K–16 communities of ways to incorporate technology into STEM education.
- To promote information and resource sharing between the university educational research and bioscience research communities with regard to (a) funding of STEM curricula and resources, (b) opportunities for disseminating these tools to the K–12 educational community in North Carolina and the nation and (c) new common core standards and their impact on the pipeline of students entering STEM fields in North Carolina.
Tracks
Educational Research Programs
Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the STEM curricula and resources in development at colleges and universities throughout North Carolina. Members of the K–12 educational community will explore methods for using these tools in the classroom, increase their understanding of the university research process and explore opportunities to partner with higher education in the development and dissemination of K–12 curricula and supplemental teaching tools. Faculty and researchers will learn how educational research programs can meet K–12 classroom needs related to curriculum and testing standards and will examine methods for development of new programs.
Educational Technology
The K–16 educational communities will explore innovative approaches to incorporating technology into the STEM classroom. Educational researchers will explore methods for using technology to disseminate curricula and resources to K–12 teachers and students.
Dissemination and Collaboration
University bioscience research faculty and educational researchers will review strategies and resources for disseminating STEM curricula and resources throughout North Carolina and the nation.
Funding 101
University bioscience research faculty and educational researchers will explore funding opportunities to develop STEMM curricula and resources that can be used in K–12 education.
Program Support
Provided by the Biogen Idec Foundation