Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice
The Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice (VI-ISERP) is a vibrant intellectual hub that fosters strategic alliances for research, networking, and innovation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) education in the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean.
University of the Virgin Islands
Established: 2015
https://viepscor.com/stem-education-research/
Profile submitted by Sandra Romano, VI-ISERP Executive Director
Vision and Goals
VI-ISERP is a STEM community dedicated to developing and implementing research-based best practices in teacher preparation and training, student learning, and workforce development in STEM fields through collaboration among university faculty, K-12 educators, government agencies and industry.
Center/Program Structure
VI-ISERP is a center in the College of Science and Mathematics at UVI with projects spanning both our campuses on St. Thomas and St. Croix. The Executive Director provides overall leadership for the main projects of the institute. Each of the projects has a lead who manages the ongoing activities of each project.
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Funding
VI-ISERP is a program supported by NSF funding through the Virgin Islands Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR).
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Description of Programming
There are three main focus areas within the Institute with different activities in each of these areas:
1. STEM Education Research: This area includes different areas of research that Institute-affiliated faculty are currently working on.
2. University level activities
-Integrating research into the introductory chemistry curriculum
-Mentoring training
-Program development at the undergraduate and graduate level
3. K12 Teacher Support
-Summer Institutes for teacher professional development
-Academic year activities for teacher professional development
-Supporting teachers in Collaborative Action Research
-Supporting the development of Professional Learning Communities for teachers
Successes and Impacts
Evaluation and Assessment
How does your center demonstrate its value, both in terms of assessing its own programming and responding to external evaluation?