STEM IMPACT
STEM IMPACT
Undergraduates program . Fisher is principal investigator of the NSF project and Dr . Jennifer Wilhelm is co-principal investigator . Fisher teaches a course for each cohort that introduces research practices , and some of these students have been assigned to the professional noticing study .
“ Being involved in undergrad research has helped me not only add great experience to my resume , but also given me an opportunity to see what graduate work could be like so I can plan my future ,” said student Meredith Davis , a special education major who worked on the grant . “ Getting an early start on resume-building experiences and research has helped me get a step ahead of my peers , and I believe it will pay off in the long run . Also , having a mentor there to critique you and assist you with the lowstakes environment this opportunity provides will give me the experience I need to one day conduct my own research confidently .”
Dr . Jennifer Wilhelm , Designing Mathematics and Science Project- Based Environments : Spanning Astronomical and Atomic Spaces , Funded by the Council on
Wilhelm
Postsecondary Education ($ 271,491 )
Few middle-school students can say a photo of their class project is on NASA ’ s website , but Dr . Jennifer Wilhelm ’ s research is connecting students ’ lessons to the real world -- even the nation ’ s space program .
Wilhelm , a UK College of Education STEM professor , is married to Dr . Ron Wilhelm , an astronomy professor in the UK College of Arts and Sciences . In 2007 , the scientific duo developed a curriculum that integrates the excitement of space exploration with science and mathematics . Called Realistic Explorations in Astronomical Learning ( REAL ), the lessons have students doing activities such as exploring NASA images of the surface of planets while developing critical thinking skills in science and mathematics .
Based on its initial success , they have continued to expand the curriculum and the research projects surrounding it , using it in middle school , high school and college classrooms .
“ When Dr . Wilhelm contacted me , I recognized the lessons fit perfectly in the astronomy unit we teach
STEM CAMP Q & A
Q : What success have you seen with STEM Camp ?
A : Through the research we ’ ve conducted with STEM Camp , we have found that students have better attitudes toward science , technology , engineering , and mathematics at the end of camp compared to when they came to camp . This is important to us , because we like to reach and attract students who don ’ t necessarily like STEM or those who have had negative experiences with STEM in the past . We ’ ve also had a significant number of students become more interested in STEM careers by the end of camp . We realize these students may not end up going into a STEM field , but research indicates that middle school is the pivotal time when career interest is peaked , so we ’ re excited that students leave camp interested in a STEM career ! of underrepresented populations , especially females and students of color . We ’ ve been successful in hitting our goals each year because of the relationships we ’ ve formed with the area school districts and the Family Youth Resource Service Coordinators at the local schools . We were recognized in Fall 2015 by NSF as a Top 5 Model for Broadening Participation . We were excited to share our model and look forward to replicating camp at Morehead State University this summer .
Q : How do activities with students and K-12 schools inform what you do as a professor ?
Dr . Margaret Mohr- Schroeder
The See Blue STEM Camp is currently NSFfunded , with a focus on broadening participation continued on page 21
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