Overview
The school-aged residents of Storm Lake City, Iowa, who are primarily the U.S.-born children of low-skilled workers, represent a significant untapped population of future STEM workers and entrepreneurs.
Objectives
- Identify stakeholder needs and aspirations for new place-based educational curricula in STEM fields and entrepreneurship in partnership with the community.
- Co-design innovative XR-enabled technology delivery models to meet these needs.
- Assess the pilot outcomes with the goal of developing a future large-scale research project based on the results.
Outcomes
Generate much-needed new understandings of the educational needs and aspirations of the youth, and families, in the community. Co-design methods empower local stakeholders.
Add to the emerging literature on smart and connected STEM education delivery models, inclusive and place-based rural STEM education, and community-engaged co-design.
Update
- The research project was featured in the 2022 STEM for All Video Showcase funded by NSF and received Public Choice recognition.
- Bi-weekly meetings to discuss activities, stakeholders, delivery models, and assessment strategies with the participation of 4-H staff.
- Participation of NSF REU interns during Summer 2022 with a project to increase college admissions accessibility for non-native English speakers.
- 2 Coordination visits, one student workshop, one teacher workshop, one students visit to ISU, a 3-day Summer Camp, and a 2-day GameJam.