GET SET Global: Education for Tomorrow in Science, Engineering, and Technology


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20 teachers, 10 counselors, and 1600 middle school students from ten District of Columbia Public Charter Schools engage in a series of STEM experiences in and out of school to test and examine a model of what is most likely to influence young people to aspire to and be prepared for careers in STEM.
Project Information
Cohort: 
6 (2008/2009-2011/2012)
Category: 
Strategies
Principal Investigator: 
Joan Abdallah
Co-Principal Investigator(s): 
Bob Hirshon
Ramona Edelin
Ric Weibl
Sponsor: 
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Primary Focus: 
Engineering
Organization Location City: 
Washington
Organization Location Region/State: 
South Atlantic
District of Columbia (DC)
Where project work happens: 
South Atlantic
District of Columbia (DC)
Other Area(s) of Focus: 
Computer Science - Programming and Other
general skills and mathematics
Environmental Science
ecological research and analysis
Participant type: 
Middle School Teachers
Middle School Students
Target Area: 
Urban
Award Number: 
0833517
Overview Section

This project focuses research on understanding what it takes to get underrepresented students to succeed in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as its central goal. It is implementing and testing an instructional model for 2,000 6-8th grade students in ten Washington, DC public, charter schools to increase student interest in and pursuit of careers in engineering and other STEM areas, with a focus on energy and renewable resources. Students may also apply for out-of-school learning activities, including engineering clubs, summer institutes, and career exploration. Thirty teachers and ten counselors are receiving professional development to implement the project in their schools. Research is focusing on the "dosage" and "duration" of the interventions by controlling these two variables. Students in the 6th grade at the start of the project are experiencing 3 years of participation, while the 8th graders have only one year. The activities completed by different cohorts of students also are being varied.