March 2025 Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

This month’s Spotlight showcases DRK-12 research in engineering education, highlighting innovative approaches to pedagogy, curricula, and student learning, as well as the unique challenges and opportunities in this area of STEM. The Spotlight also includes a list of active engineering projects, publications, and other resources related to engineering education.

If you’re heading to a conference, look through the list of DRK-12 presentations from our recent Websites, Publications, and Presentations survey results. We hope that you’ll participate in those sessions as well as the CADRE session on AI in STEM education at AERA, where the authors of our series of briefs will discuss key opportunities and challenges facing us. If you’re presenting, let us know. We’ll help spread the word, including through our new Bluesky account.

In case you missed our latest DRK-12 PI Meeting email to registrants on March 19, we invite you to register to present a poster at the General Poster Hall session. In addition, we’ve opened registration for two methods workshops and an innovation hackathon. Stay up to date on meeting happenings on our PI meeting event page and watch your inbox.

We also remind you to keep track of updates to NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders.

Best,
The CADRE Team

Engineering Education | Spotlight

Engineering spotlight

This month’s Spotlight highlights DRK-12 innovations and research in engineering education. Six projects share information about their work—how they are integrating engineering into other disciplines, their use of innovative technologies, the unique affordances and challenges related to this area of STEM education, as well as research findings and products. The Spotlight also includes a list of other active and recent DRK-12 projects, DRK-12 publications, and other resources related to engineering education.

In This Spotlight:

DRK-12 Presentations and Publications | Resources and Events

Attending education conferences this year? Check out this list of upcoming presentations to find opportunities to connect and learn from your DRK-12 colleagues while you're there!

We also invite you to peruse an updated list of recent publications and products from DRK-12 projects to learn more about the findings and promising approaches emerging from colleagues’ work.

This information is being gathered through our Websites, Publications, and Presentations survey. We encourage awardees to complete the survey (if you haven't already). We will continue to update the lists as survey results come in.

Take Survey

Project Tip: Recruitment and Retention of Research Participants

When recruiting and retaining participants for education research, successful strategies are built on early and thorough preparation, effective communication, flexibility, and strong relationships. Here are some tips:
 

  • Engage with school districts early, even before submitting proposals, to align research with the needs and priorities of educators and to foster investment in the study.
  • Build long-term relationships with teachers, administrators, and local education networks by attending local education conferences, conducting professional development, and maintaining consistent communication through newsletters to nurture trust and engagement.
  • Leverage personal contacts, especially within rural or hard-to-reach districts, by using existing networks and establishing connections with influential district leaders to access teachers best suited for the study.
  • Provide clear, personalized messaging to ensure potential participants understand the benefits of the research and use diverse communication methods, such as videos or interactive platforms, to boost engagement.

Read additional tips in the CADRE brief Recruiting & Retaining Participants for Your Education Research.

Newsbites

News from NSF

News from NSF Networks

News from DRK-12 Projects and Awardees

Awards and Recognition

Publications

Do you have news to share? Email cadre@edc.org.

Upcoming Opportunities

The following funding and publication opportunities, listed by deadline, may be of interest to you and your DRK-12 project members.

Funding

For more NSF funding opportunities, see CADRE's list of Upcoming NSF DRL EHR Solicitation Deadlines.
 

Publications

For other publication opportunities, including those with ongoing submissions, see CADRE's list of Publications for STEM Educators, Policymakers, and Researchers.
 
Conferences
For more conference information, see CADRE's list of Conferences for STEM Educators, Policymakers, and Researchers.
 

Career & Professional Development