ReSTEM Institute: Reimagining & Researching STEM Education

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ReSTEM

Provenance: ReSTEM
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The ReSTEM mission is to study and create reforms of STEM education in K–12 schools. Engaging all learners in mathematical, scientific and engineering practices is the guiding principle for these reforms.

College of Education, University of Missouri-Columbia
Established: 2014

https://education.missouri.edu/outreach/the-restem-institute/

Vision and Goals

Mission
The ReSTEM Institute studies and creates reforms of STEM education in K–12 schools. Engaging all learners in mathematical, scientific and engineering practices is the guiding principle for these reforms.

Reform of STEM education in K–12 schools is a complex and dynamic process that necessitates the coordination of multifaceted transformations to school and classroom environments. The ultimate goal of these efforts is the improvement of teaching and learning such that all students can engage substantively in mathematical, scientific and engineering practices.

Goals

ReSTEM pursues the following goals:

1. Foster school-wide reform of STEM education.
1. Collaborate with K-12 school personnel to affect change in local STEM education systems.
2. Conduct research on the processes of school-wide reform for STEM education.
3. Evaluate programs designed to support school reform of STEM education.
4. Synthesize findings from collaborations, research, and evaluations to create models for systemic and systematic reform of STEM education.
2. Enhance STEM teacher development for the support of student learning and achievement.
1. Create opportunities for teachers to develop their knowledge for teaching and teaching practices.
2. Develop materials designed to support teacher learning and development.
3. Conduct research on teacher learning and the transformation of teaching practices.
4. Evaluate teacher professional development programs and materials.
3. Develop and disseminate research-based STEM education materials for K–12 classrooms.
1. Create classroom materials in multimedia formats that engage students in mathematical, scientific and engineering practices.
2. Support effective use of ReSTEM materials by designing professional development opportunities that will optimize implementation.
3. Disseminate ReSTEM and other high quality STEM education materials.
4. Conduct research and evaluation studies relative to development, implementation, and fidelity issues of curriculum.
4. Empower all students to use mathematical, scientific and engineering practices such that they are prepared to succeed in school, careers and life.
1. Improve learning opportunities for students who represent underserved and underrepresented groups including rural populations.
2. Design, test and disseminate materials, instructional practices, and assessment tools to enhance student performance of all students.
3. Create new opportunities for all students to link informal STEM learning opportunities to their school experiences.
4. Conduct research on student learning of, dispositions toward, and identity relative to STEM.

Center/Program Structure

The ReSTEM Institute is located within and supported by the MU College of Education. A Director and two Associate Directors, all of whom are faculty members, serve as the Institute administrators. Staffing includes a project manager, an outreach specialist, and two graduate research assistants. MU faculty have opportunities to be designated as ReSTEM Affiliates.

Description of Programming

ReSTEM programming is organized in four areas: Research, Outreach, Development, and Evaluation. In terms of research, we study processes and outcomes related to STEM education. This work includes individual research projects, grant writing activities, and grant services to faculty PIs. Our outreach efforts include a variety of programs designed to support K-12 schools, teachers and students. Examples include facilitating an after school science club with one of our school partners and various teacher professional development programs. In the area of development, we use research findings and best practices to create new materials for teaching, learning and assessment. Current development work includes creation of a teaching model and curriculum for issues-based science instruction and development and pilot testing of several new assessment instruments. We also provide evaluation services for projects and grants. ReSTEM coordinates evaluation of several NSF funded projects.