STEM+C
Integrating Computing into Science Teaching and Learning in Grades 6-8: A Diverse Partnership to Develop an Evidence-Guided Model to Serve Rural Communities
About Our Project
In the fall of 2018, the RiSE Center was awarded $1.25 M to study how computer science can be successfully integrated into science instruction at the middle school level. This research study is a 3 year project during which 30 middle school science teachers will partner with researchers and staff at the RiSE Center to develop and implement science modules that include an integrated computer science component. Our hope is to gain an understanding of how computer science can be taught within a science program in a way that supports student learning in both the science discipline and computer science in addition to identifying what supports are needed to help teachers integrate computer science into their instruction successfully.
Coming Soon!
This spring, we will be releasing units for teachers and other schools to pilot for the 2022-2023 school year! If you are interested, please contact the Project Coordinator, Marina Van der Eb, at marina . van@ maine.edu!
Our Integrated Modules
Source: https://scratch.mit.edu/
Earth Science
The STEM+C Earth Science unit contains one integrated lesson that incorporates Scratch programming to support modeling of plate tectonics. Students use virtual puzzle pieces in Scratch to represent the movement of Earth's continents and investigate continental drift using rock and fossil evidence.
Life Science
The STEM+C Life Science unit includes seven integrated lessons that incoporate computer science to teach students about various ecological topics such as transects and predator-prey relationships. These lessons use Scratch programming as well as Edison robots, CS Unplugged activities, and a computer simulation.
Physical Science
This STEM+C Physical Science unit contains five integrated lessons that use computer science to boost learning about objects in motion. The integrated lessons deal with the understanding, analyzing, and writing of code to measure and graph linear motion of a robot, and teaching computational thinking skills.
Our Team
Susan McKay, PI
Professor of Physics and Director of the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine (UMaine)
Laura Millay
Project Research and Evaluation Coordinator, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine (UMaine)
Marina Van der Eb
Project Coordinator, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine (UMaine)
Mitchell Bruce, CO-PI
Professor, Department of Chemistry, and RiSE Center Member, UMaine
Jim Fratini, CO-PI
Middle School Science Teacher, Hermon Middle School
Sara Lindsay, CO-PI
Associate Professor, School of Marine Sciences, and RiSE Center Member, UMaine
Harlan Onsrud, CO-PI
Professor of Spatial Informatics and Director, School of Computing and Information Science, UMaine
Jon Doty
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Regional School Unit 34
Torsten Hahmann
Assistant Professor of Spatial Informatics, School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine
Connie Holden
Professor of Developmental Mathematics and Science, University of Maine Augusta
Andre Khalil
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Director of the CompuMAINE Lab, University of Maine
Beth Muncey
Professional Learning and Resource Coordinator, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine
Katie Wright
Middle School Science Teacher, Houlton Middle School
Dr. George Bodner
Professor of Chemical Education, Purdue University
Dr. Marie Desjardins
Dean, College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences, and Professor of Computer Science, Simmons College, whose research interests include K-12 computer science education and pedagogical innovation
Dr. Amy Johnson
Co-Director, Maine Education Policy Research Institute, and Assistant Director, Center for Education Policy, Applied Research, and Evaluation, University of Southern Maine
Dr. Jason Judd
Executive Director of Educate Maine and Chair of the recent Maine Computer Science Task Force
Beth Lambert
Coordinator of Secondary Education and Integrated Instruction, Maine Department of Education
John McDonald
Superintendent of Regional School Unit 13 and RiSE Curriculum Modification Review Board member
Dr. Robert Pockalny
Associate Marine Research Scientist at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and co-PI on funded STEM+C project
Dr. Penny Rheingans
Director, School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine
Dr. Ben Sayler
Professor of Physical Science and Mathematics, Director of the Sanford Center for Science Education at Black Hills State University and PI on funded STEM+C project
ALL SAINT'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Bangor, ME
BREWER COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Brewer, ME
CAPE ELIZABETH MIDDLE SCHOOL
Cape Elizabeth, ME
CARAVEL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Carmel, ME
GLENBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Glenburn, ME
HERMON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Hermon, ME
JAMES F. DOUGHTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Bangor, ME
HOULTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Houlton, ME
LEWISTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lewiston, ME
LUBEC CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
Eastport, ME
MINOT CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
Minot, ME
REEDS BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Hampden, ME
SAMUEL L. WAGNER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Winterport, ME
SEDOMOCHA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dover-Foxcroft, ME
SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Dyer Brook, ME
TRENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Trenton, ME
VEAZIE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Veazie, ME
WINDSOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Windsor, ME
WINSLOW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Winslow, ME
Susan McKay, PI
Professor of Physics and Director of the Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine (UMaine)
Laura Millay
Project Research and Evaluation Coordinator, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine (UMaine)
Marina Van der Eb
Project Coordinator, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine (UMaine)
Mitchell Bruce, CO-PI
Professor, Department of Chemistry, and RiSE Center Member, UMaine
Jim Fratini, CO-PI
Middle School Science Teacher, Hermon Middle School
Sara Lindsay, CO-PI
Associate Professor, School of Marine Sciences, and RiSE Center Member, UMaine
Harlan Onsrud, CO-PI
Professor of Spatial Informatics and Director, School of Computing and Information Science, UMaine
Jon Doty
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Regional School Unit 34
Torsten Hahmann
Assistant Professor of Spatial Informatics, School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine
Connie Holden
Professor of Developmental Mathematics and Science, University of Maine Augusta
Andre Khalil
Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Director of the CompuMAINE Lab, University of Maine
Beth Muncey
Professional Learning and Resource Coordinator, Maine Center for Research in STEM Education (RiSE Center), University of Maine
Katie Wright
Middle School Science Teacher, Houlton Middle School
Dr. George Bodner
Professor of Chemical Education, Purdue University
Dr. Marie Desjardins
Dean, College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences, and Professor of Computer Science, Simmons College, whose research interests include K-12 computer science education and pedagogical innovation
Dr. Amy Johnson
Co-Director, Maine Education Policy Research Institute, and Assistant Director, Center for Education Policy, Applied Research, and Evaluation, University of Southern Maine
Dr. Jason Judd
Program Director of Project>Login at Educate Maine and Chair of the recent Maine Computer Science Task Force
Beth Lambert
Coordinator of Secondary Education and Integrated Instruction, Maine Department of Education
John McDonald
Superintendent of Regional School Unit 13 and RiSE Curriculum Modification Review Board member
Dr. Robert Pockalny
Associate Marine Research Scientist at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography and co-PI on funded STEM+C project
Dr. Penny Rheingans
Director, School of Computing and Information Science, University of Maine
Dr. Ben Sayler
Professor of Physical Science and Mathematics, Director of the Sanford Center for Science Education at Black Hills State University and PI on funded STEM+C project
ALL SAINT'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Bangor, ME
BREWER COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Brewer, ME
CAPE ELIZABETH MIDDLE SCHOOL
Cape Elizabeth, ME
CARAVEL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Carmel, ME
GLENBURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Glenburn, ME
HERMON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Hermon, ME
JAMES F. DOUGHTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Bangor, ME
HOULTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Houlton, ME
LEWISTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lewiston, ME
LUBEC CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
Eastport, ME
MINOT CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
Minot, ME
REEDS BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Hampden, ME
SAMUEL L. WAGNER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Winterport, ME
SEDOMOCHA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dover-Foxcroft, ME
SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Dyer Brook, ME
TRENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Trenton, ME
VEAZIE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Veazie, ME
WINDSOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Windsor, ME
WINSLOW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Winslow, ME
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This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1842359. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
