$1.03M National Science Foundation grant to improve STEM learning in mid

Updated Jan 27, 2023

$1.03M National Science Foundation grant to improve STEM learning in middle schools with a focus on authentic science discourse

A team in the VCU School of Education’s Discourse and Learning Lab is collaborating with middle school science teachers in Richmond Public Schools and Chesterfield County Public Schools as part of a $1.03M, five-year (2019-2024) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The team is identifying ways to connect science phenomena to students’ lived experiences and track how urban students are motivated to engage in authentic science discourse.

Middle school is a pivotal stage in students’ academic development, as the curriculum becomes more differentiated by subject and students begin to decide about their future line of study and careers. This project builds on students’ knowledge and creates equitable access to participation in authentic scientific discourse.

“Science talk is at the heart of science learning,” said Christine Lee Bae, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Foundations of Education. “Specifically, the project aims to support science talk that productively builds upon and integrates diverse students’ knowledge and experiences, which will promote equitable access to engagement, motivation, and learning in science.”

Researchers are working directly with educators and students to co-plan, teach, observe, debrief, and reflect on activities to create more opportunities to make science talk accessible to their students. The project pivoted during the pandemic to incorporate online tools and innovations to engage students in sense-making and sharing ideas about science phenomena in Google classrooms.

One Grade 8 teacher said of the work, “I learned a lot about facilitating discourse, and I feel like you have given us a lot of helpful resources.” Another Grade 7 teacher added, “I just want to say ‘thank you.’ It made me think more about how to involve my students throughout the entire year, making sure that I give them a chance to share their voice.”

Read more about the Science Discourse Learning project.