STEM for All

STEM for All STEM and students of color This proposal aims to create an interdisciplinary Community that explores, identifies, and ultimately creates outcomes for marginalized groups. Too often, educational researchers do not dialogue with computer scientists, psychometricians, and/or program developers. So, in accordance with a recommendation from the NSF Task Force on Cyberlearning (2008) we will create a cross-disciplinary community of researchers and practitioners to move beyond isolated research studies and identify and adopt common research practices and models (Dede, 2009). Rather than follow the traditional path, our proposal assumes the risk of blazing a new direction that challenges deficit thinking and models by re-conceptualizing notions of, programs for, and funding aimed at traditionally underserved communities. We hope to extend the initial discussions on this issue started at AERA 2011 by creating usable knowledge that identifies what works, when, and for whom; and create innovative practices that can be customize and/or implemented to scale (Dede, 2009). In order to achieve these objectives and outcomes, this project will: 1) Develop a forum whereas an interdisciplinary team can share knowledge and devise agendas and action items that lead to broadening understanding and pragmatic solutions for traditionally underserved students to enter and persist in STEM fields. Outcome: Research workgroups that synthesize and disseminate literature, best practices, and evidence-based culturally relevant technology programs working with traditionally underserved groups and STEM. 2) Disseminate results from dialogues and group actions to various audiences. Outcome: New models for assessment, culturally relevant programs, and research packaged in both traditional (e.g. NSF-sponsored white paper, peer-reviewed journal articles, national media outlets) and non-traditional digitally-rich platforms (e.g. virtual repository, on-line communities). We propose accomplishing the above by convening a group, particularly scholars of color, researchers, practitioners, funding organizations, and policy analysts with interest, expertise, and knowledge in culturally relevant practices and its potential for positively affecting underprivileged students digital creativity; racial and ethnic identity and its role in technological self-concept; and STEM workforce development for students from high needs areas.