DRK-12 Research and Products

In Praise of Messy Data
Publication | Lessons from the search for alien worlds.
Constructing and Role-Playing Student Avatars in a Simulation of Teaching Algebra for Diverse Learners
Publication | This study examines the design and implementation of a simulated teaching environment in Second Life for prospective teachers.
Examining Young Students’ Problem Scoping in Engineering Design
Publication | Exploring students' problem solving within an integrated engineering and literacy activity
What’s happening in the Quantified Self movement?
Uncovering and Eliciting Mathematical Perceptions in Linguistically Diverse Classrooms
Publication | One of the many challenges that teachers face in mathematics classrooms is determining how much of the verbal and written explanations help students accomplish instructional goals. The challenge is greater in linguistically diverse classrooms…
STEM Smart Brief: CTE Pathways to STEM Occupations
Publication | “Workers in STEM fields play a direct role in driving economic growth. Yet, because of how the STEM economy has been defined, policymakers have mainly focused on supporting workers with at least a bachelor’s degree, overlooking a strong…
Design Practices of Preservice Elementary Teachers in an Integrated Engineering and Literature Experience
Publication | Examining discourse of a team of pre-service teachers within an IEL engineering design challenge
Staying Engaged: Knowledge and Research Needs in Student Engagement
Publication | In this article, we review knowledge about student engagement and look ahead to the future of study in this area.
Professional Development Aligned with AP Chemistry Curriculum: Promoting Science Practices and Facilitating Enduring Conceptual Understanding
An Investigation of Middle School Science Teachers and Students Use of Technology Inside and Outside of Classrooms: Considering whether digital natives are more technology savvy than their teachers
Sticky Ions: A Student-Centered Activity Using Magnetic Models to Explore the Dissolving of Ionic Compounds
Professional Development to Enhance Teachers' Practices in Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as Cognitive Tools: Lessons Learned from a Design-Based Research Study
Implementing a Robotics Curriculum in an Early Childhood Montessori Classroom
Publication | This paper explores how robotics can be used as a new educational tool in a Montessori early education classroom.
ASPECT: Summary of Year 1 Work
Presentation | A 2-page summary of the ASPECT project, including project goals, approach, year one accomplishments, early findings, current efforts, and early impacts.
The 8 Elements of Inclusive STEM High Schools: Findings from the STEM School Study
How games can engage students and improve learning
Publication | Understanding how games create a sense of flow and engagement can help teachers make better choices about their instructional use of games.
Exploratory Study of Informal Strategies for Equal Sharing Problems of Students With Learning Disabilities
Engage. Elaborate. Evaluate! Virtual Environment-Based Assessments of Science Content and Practices
‘‘I Want My Robot to Look for Food’’: Comparing Kindergartner’s Programming Comprehension Using Tangible, Graphic, and Hybrid User Interfaces
Publication | In recent years, educational robotics has become an increasingly popular research area. However, limited studies have focused on differentiated learning outcomes based on type of programming interface. This study aims to explore how successfully…
2014 DR K-12 Program Webinar Resources
Presentation | In this 2-webinar series hosted by CADRE, NSF provides an overview of the DR K-12 funding program and reviews this year's DR K-12 solicitation.
Use of Google Earth, Cyber Databases, and Geotagged Photos to Enhance Students’ Scientific Practices and Understanding
Publication | Using Google Earth, Cyber Databases, and Geotagged Photos to Enhance Students’ Scientific Practices and Understanding of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
SketchMiner: Mining Learner-Generated Science Drawings with Topological Abstraction
Publication | This paper introduces SketchMiner, which uses drawing topologies to automatically interpret learner-generated sketches.
Early Career Researchers and Developers in the DR K–12 Program: Needs, Supports, and Recommendations
Publication | The future strength of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) K-12 education research and development efforts depends in part on the development of promising early career researchers and developers—including doctoral students, post-docs, and…
Exploring Opportunities for STEM Teacher Leadership: Summary of a Convocation
Assessing Elementary Students' Science Competency with Text Analytics
Publication | This paper presents WriteEval, a hybrid text analytics method for analyzing student-constructed responses.